Per Machinam Ad Astra. The Artificial Intelligence Competence Centre (AI-CC) drives the European Space Agency's efforts to advance AI technologies and applications for space. In practice, our team:
New funding opportunities on AI have been announced
Go to the Business with ESA section for more information
SPAICE brings together leading researchers, engineers, and industry experts at the intersection of artificial intelligence and space exploration. The 2026 edition will take place at ESTEC, on the 21st and 23rd of October 2026
Click here for more details.
📅 Posted June 2026The ESA AI strategy identifies four key domains
(AI-generated illustration)
This document sets out ESA’s vision to become a leader in applying AI to accelerate space innovation, strengthen European sovereignty, extract greater value from space data, and improve organisational efficiency.
The strategy promotes a federated, Agency-wide approach that combines innovation, operational excellence, responsible AI practices, and collaboration with industry, academia, and Member States to ensure Europe remains competitive in the rapidly evolving AI landscape.
The 2025 ESA Technology Harmonisation Dossier on AI, AISSA, coordinates the development of AI across the European space sector by outlining R&D directions, reliability standards, and technology timelines to keep European space capabilities competitive.
As an entity based in Europe or Canada, you can request access to the harmonisation dossier here.
More info about the Harmonisation process can be found here
Strategy outlining upcoming challenges and opportunities up to 2040. This document is framed around five goals:
- Protecting our Planet and Climate
- Exploring and Discovering
- Strengthening European Autonomy and Resilience
- Boosting Growth and Competitiveness
- Inspiring Europe
Access here
AI supporting milestones reviews, definition and tracking of requirements for complex systems, interacting with MBSE (Model-Based Systems Engineering) tools and models.
End-to-end supply chain visibility, Automated space logistics networks.
AI-driven generative design for spacecraft components, and digital twins for predictive maintenances
Neuromorphics hardware, edge computing for onboard AI execution.
Spacecraft health monitoring, rendezvous & docking, self-organizing networks (SONs), autonomous rovers and probes
AI-enhanced decision support, Swarm intelligence
Debris detection & collision avoidance, Space weather forecasting
Reveal previously unknown phenomena, relationships and insights hidden within large-scale scientific and mission datasets.
Automatically detect, classify and monitor environmental features, changes and events from EO data to generate actionable insights at scale.
Use historical and real-time mission observations to predict future environmental conditions, trends and system behaviour.
Process and interpret data directly onboard spacecraft to detect events of interest and prioritise what information is sent back to Earth.
Virtual assistants to accelerate knowledge retrieval, AI-enhanced knowledge databases
(AI-generated illustration)
ESA has already executed multiple activities and initiatives on AI topics. Here are a sample of our most recent activities. More details can be found in Nebula Public Library, the activities portal, or by contacting .
| Status | Starting Year | Title | Activity Type | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Running | 2026 | Machine Learning for Atmospheric Impact of Launchers Expro+ | Discovery > Technology Development Element | link |
| Running | 2026 | AI Hardware Acceleration of RF Payload Processing for Next-generation Cognitive Satellite | Discovery > Early technology development | link |
| Running | 2026 | Ai-powered Smartphone Antenna System Enabling Direct Satellite Voice, Data, And Video | Discovery > Early technology development | link |
| Running | 2026 | EO-STRESS: Mapping Future Environmental Degradation with EO and ML under Shared Socioeconomic Pathways | Discovery > Co-sponsored Research | link |
| Running | 2026 | Explainable AI For Wildfire Early Warning: Trustworthy Prediction Models For Copernicus Emergency Management | Discovery > Co-sponsored Research | link |
| Running | 2026 | Explainable Machine Learning for Space-Compatible Quantum Chips | Discovery > Co-sponsored Research | link |
| Running | 2026 | LandOS: Democratising Earth Observation — An AI Platform to Make EO Information Accessible, Insightful and Actionable for Portuguese Municipalities | ESA Φ-lab > Product Development | link |
| Running | 2026 | Machine Learning for Novel And Automated Spectral Line Assignment | Discovery > Co-sponsored Research | link |
| Running | 2026 | Onboard Unsupervised Online Learning for Earth Observation: Towards Self-adaptable Embedded Ai Systems | Discovery > Co-sponsored Research | link |
| Running | 2026 | Physics-informed Graph ML for Real-time Satellite Fault Detection And Control with Limited Telemetry Data | Discovery > Co-sponsored Research | link |
| Running | 2026 | Physics-informed Machine Learning for Safe Learning-based Control in Space Applications | Discovery > Visiting Researcher | link |
| Running | 2026 | Tensor-Network Compression for on-Board AI under Power And Memory Constraints | Discovery > Early technology development | link |
| Running | 2026 | Unleashing AI for Space Using Advanced Set Propagation | Discovery > Co-sponsored Research | link |
| Running | 2026 | Unlocking the Potential of Quantum Machine Learning Algorithms for Earth Observation | Discovery > Co-sponsored Research | link |
| Running | 2026 | Vortex - Unlocking High-Level Space Application Programming of the AI Engines in Versal-Class on-Board Computing | Discovery > Study | link |
| Completed | 2025 | AI for automation of operations preparation and operational simulation | link | |
| Running | 2025 | Ai Visual Copilot | ESA Φ-lab > Product Development | link |
| Running | 2025 | Ai-based Automatic Hazard Detection in Lunar Surface Images | Discovery > Co-sponsored Research | link |
| Running | 2025 | Autonomous Attitude Guidance And Control for Agile Maneuvering Spacecraft | Discovery > Co-sponsored Research | link |
| Completed | 2025 | Brain-inspired Computing with Spiking Neural Networks And Risc-v | Discovery > Visiting Researcher | link |
| Running | 2025 | Closing the Verification Gap: AI-powered Requirement Verification for FPGA Designs | Discovery > Early technology development | link |
| Running | 2025 | Determining Maximal Metabolic Parameters from Submaximal Assessments Using Deep Learning | Discovery > Early technology development | link |
| Running | 2025 | Dynamic Property Estimation And Control of Large Space Structures During In-space Assembly | Discovery > Study | link |
| Running | 2025 | Engine | ESA Φ-lab > Product Development | link |
| Running | 2025 | Modhif. Modelling High Frequency Combustion Instabilities for Innovative Propulsion: from High Fidelity Simulations to Low Order Models Featuring Machine Learning | Discovery > Co-sponsored Research | link |
| Running | 2025 | Robodress - Robotic Construction with Found Materials: Rock Dressing Via Breaking And Reshaping | Discovery > Co-sponsored Research | link |
| Running | 2025 | Ssl4reo: Self-supervised Deep Learning for Bayesian Regression Tasks in Eo | Discovery > Study | link |
| Completed | 2025 | Towards Onboard Autonomy: Deployment of Ml-based Anomaly Detection on Space-qualified Hardware | Discovery > Visiting Researcher | link |
| Completed | 2024 | AI for automation of satellite health monitoring and ground operations | link | |
| Completed | 2024 | AI qualification and validation services for space systems operations | link | |
| Completed | 2024 | AI visual monitoring technologies | link | |
| Completed | 2024 | AI-based decision support system for mission operations | link | |
| Completed | 2024 | Advanced Synthetic Data And Pose Estimation Framework for Enhanced Autonomous Spacecraft Operations | Discovery > Early technology development | link |
| Running | 2024 | Ai-based Multi-sensor Data Fusion for Autonomous Navigation around Asteroids | Discovery > Co-sponsored Research | link |
| Completed | 2024 | Assessments to prepare and de-risk technology developments- AI-based monitoring of robotic Large Format Additive Manufacturing in space uncontrolled environment | link | |
| Completed | 2024 | Assessments to prepare and de-risk technology developments: AI AUGMENTED STAR TRACKER PERFORMANCE ENHANCEMENT | link | |
| Completed | 2024 | Astromlops: Revolutionising Astronomical Data Processing with an Mlops-driven Automated Pipeline | Discovery > Co-sponsored Research | link |
| Running | 2024 | Autonomous Ai-aided Relative Navigation for Partially Known Uncooperative Targets: Tackling Uncertainties in Close-proximity Operations | Discovery > Co-sponsored Research | link |
| Completed | 2024 | Codextec – A Testbench for the Exploration And Exploitation of Open-source Large Language Models for Enhanced Software Engineering Processes in European Space Projects | Discovery > Early technology development | link |
| Running | 2024 | Enabling the Use of Socs Embedding a Machine Learning Accelerator in Satellites And Institutional Missions | Discovery > Co-sponsored Research | link |
| Completed | 2024 | Neurospace: Pioneering Neuromorphic Ai Acceleration in Space-grade Microprocessors | Discovery > Early technology development | link |
| Completed | 2024 | Onboard Artificial Intelligence for Adaptive Sar Raw Data Compression at Global Scale | Discovery > Study | link |
| Running | 2024 | Ovarian Follicle-on-chip Model for the Investigation And Treatment of Microgravity-dependent Abnormalities by Using a Machine Learning Approach | Discovery > Co-sponsored Research | link |
| Running | 2024 | Regolith Intelligence: Isru Prepping with Machine Learning Research on Lunar Rocks | Discovery > Co-sponsored Research | link |
| Running | 2024 | Toward a Foundation Model for Multi-sensor Earth Observation Data with Language Semantics | Discovery > Co-sponsored Research | link |
| Completed | 2024 | Transfer of Sea Ice Freeboard from Cryosat-2 to Sentinel-1 Using Deep Learning | Discovery > Co-sponsored Research | link |
| Running | 2024 | Udsm Ai-engine for Reliable, Energy-efficient Next-generation Satellites | Discovery > Co-sponsored Research | link |
| Completed | 2024 | Assessments to prepare and de-risk technology developments- LARS Sim - Large AI & Robotics Space Simulator | link | |
| Completed | 2023 | Ai Supported Ndi Methods for Ceramic Components | link | |
| Completed | 2023 | Artificial Intelligence for large fleet network management | link | |
| Completed | 2023 | Artificial Intelligence for quality control (AI4QC) | link | |
| Completed | 2023 | Artificial Intelligence security monitoring platform | link | |
| Completed | 2023 | De-risk assessment: AI-based SAR focusing prototype | link | |
| Completed | 2023 | Few-shot Anomaly Detection in Satellite Telemetry | Discovery > Study | link |
| Completed | 2023 | Fpg-ai: a Technology Independent Framework for Edge Ai Deployment Onboard Satellite, And its Characterisation on Nanoxplore Fpgas | Discovery > Early technology development | link |
| Completed | 2023 | Generating an Open Ai Training Data Set for Moon Craters with Crowd Science Via a Videogame | Discovery > Study | link |
| Completed | 2023 | Getting the Most Out of Image-level Labels: Weakly Supervised Learning for Hyperspectral Image Analysis | Discovery > Study | link |
| Completed | 2023 | How Does Machine Learning Taste: Extending Model-based Design Techniques to Support Machine Learning Applications Integration | Discovery > Co-sponsored Research | link |
| Completed | 2023 | Large Language Model Agent to Interact with Earth Observation Data | Discovery > Study | link |
| Running | 2023 | Leveraging High Reliability Low Latency Machine Learning for Imaging during Very Fast Autonomous Fly-by Missions | Discovery > Co-sponsored Research | link |
| Running | 2023 | Ml-optimized Low-profile Antennas For Small Satellites | Discovery > Early technology development | link |
| Running | 2023 | New Approaches for the Validation of Vision-based Navigation | Discovery > Co-sponsored Research | link |
| Running | 2023 | Novel Machine Learning Approach Based on Graph Neural Network (gnn) to Address the Complex Micro-physics of Material Strength Properties for the Design And Verification of New Spacecraft Components | Discovery > Co-sponsored Research | link |
| Running | 2023 | Novel Memristor-based Neural Network Accelerators for Space Applications | Discovery > Co-sponsored Research | link |
| Completed | 2023 | Optimised Artificial Intelligence Hpdp Interface Using Klepsydra Streaming | Discovery > Early technology development | link |
| Completed | 2023 | Preparation of enabling space technologies and Building Blocks: Machine Learning-Based On-Board Autonomy, Failure Prognostics and Detection on Small Satellites | link | |
| Running | 2023 | Rhizome 2: Scaling-up Capability of Human-robot Interaction Supported Approaches for Robotically 3d-printing Extraterrestrial Habitats | Discovery > Co-sponsored Research | link |
| Running | 2023 | Risc-v Based Soc Featuring a Soft-gpu Hardware Accelerator for Artificial Intelligence On-board | Discovery > Co-sponsored Research | link |
| Completed | 2023 | Spotted - Spatio-temporal Fusion And Artificial Intelligence for Plastic Debris Detection | Discovery > Study | link |
| Running | 2023 | Using Spatial Augmented Reality to Improve Astronauts' Situational Awareness And Training Efficacy Through a Novel Seamless Transition Between Training And Operation for Future Lunar Missions | Discovery > Co-sponsored Research | link |
| Running | 2023 | Utilizing Machine Learning Techniques to Develop Physics-informed Generative Design Algorithms for Additive Manufacturing | Discovery > Co-sponsored Research | link |
| Completed | 2022 | A Comparative Study of High-level And Low-level Implementation of Deep Learning Models for Spacecraft | Discovery > Study | link |
| Running | 2022 | AI-enhanced Real-time Identification And LFT Based-control for Space Systems | Discovery > Co-sponsored Research | link |
| Completed | 2022 | Adaptive Sar Signal Compression through Artificial Intelligence | Discovery > Study | link |
| Completed | 2022 | Adaptive Sar Signal Compression through Artificial Intelligence | Discovery > Study | link |
| Completed | 2022 | Ai Aided Ar/vr Applications And Vr Aided Ml | link | |
| Completed | 2022 | Ai at the Edge: Deep Cube Service Iod/iov | Discovery > Study | link |
| Completed | 2022 | Ai for Model Based Diagnostic at System Level (aimsys) | link | |
| Completed | 2022 | Ai-based On-board Reconfigurable Fdir And Lifetime Prediction for Constellations | Discovery > Early technology development | link |
| Completed | 2022 | Ai-powered Digital Assistant for Space - System Engineering | link | |
| Completed | 2022 | An Ai-based System for Active Tracking of Earth Features from Ops-sat | Discovery > Study | link |
| Completed | 2022 | Artificial Intelligence Applied to Code Repair after Code Static Analysis Verification | Discovery > Early technology development | link |
| Completed | 2022 | Artificial Intelligence for Improved GNSS Precise Products | link | |
| Completed | 2022 | Deep Neural Networks for Geomagnetic Forecasting | Discovery > Co-sponsored Research | link |
| Completed | 2022 | Dual-camera Satellite with On-board Ai-based Decision Making Capabilities | Discovery > Study | link |
| Running | 2022 | Enabling Fast Modeling of Large Interdependent Data Sets Using Graphical Neural Networks | Discovery > Co-sponsored Research | link |
| Completed | 2022 | Esa Anomalies Dataset for International Ai Anomaly Detection Benchmark | link | |
| Completed | 2022 | Explainable Secure Deep Learning Software for Spacecraft Gnc Systems | Discovery > Early technology development | link |
| Completed | 2022 | Fast Design Algorithms for Antenna Arrays Using Machine - Learning | Discovery > Early technology development | link |
| Completed | 2022 | Hybrid Edge-cloud Ai Accelerated Astrometric Reduction Pipeline for Agile Near-real Time In-situ Space Surveillance And Tracking | Discovery > Study | link |
| Completed | 2022 | Innovative Coarse-grained Reconfigurable Array Platform for Computing Artificial Intelligence On-board | Discovery > Co-sponsored Research | link |
| Completed | 2022 | Machine Learning Automated Test Processes (malt-p) | link | |
| Completed | 2022 | Machine Learning Platform of Spacecraft Operational Datasets | link | |
| Completed | 2022 | Neural Network Software/hardware Auto-coding from Standard Onnx Definition | Discovery > Early technology development | link |
| Completed | 2022 | On-board Anomaly Detection from the Ops-sat Telemetry Using Deep Learning | Discovery > Study | link |
| Completed | 2022 | Onboard Fdir Based on Ai Techniques with Data Streams from Columbus And Autonomous Tm Management Control, Early Technology Project for Future Orbital Missions | Discovery > Early technology development | link |
| Completed | 2022 | Physical And Chemical Properties of Mercury's Surface through Data Mining Approaches | Discovery > Co-sponsored Research | link |
| Completed | 2022 | Saasy Ml - Onboard Machine Learning Software As a Serivice for Experimenters | Discovery > Study | link |
| Running | 2022 | Soft Annelid-inspired Robot with Peristaltic Gait Using Low Voltage Fault-tolerant Artificial Muscles for Planetary Exploration | Discovery > Co-sponsored Research | link |
| Completed | 2022 | Tia (test, Improve, Assure) - Providing Safety Guarantees for Ml-based Components through Automated Debugging And Input Generation | Discovery > Co-sponsored Research | link |
| Completed | 2021 | A Novel Machine Learning Based Perspective to Identify And Model Ocean Precursors to Extreme Hurricane Development. | Discovery > Co-sponsored Research | link |
| Running | 2021 | AIX: AI-eXpress | GSTP > Technology de-risking | link |
| Completed | 2021 | Ai Enhanced Impact Monitoring System | Discovery > Early technology development | link |
| Completed | 2021 | An AI Assistant to Interact with Remote Sensing Images | Discovery > Co-sponsored Research | link |
| Completed | 2021 | Application of Machine Learning And Artificial Intelligence Technologies for Process Data Analysis | link | |
| Completed | 2021 | Artificial Intelligence Techniques for GNC Design, Implementation And Verification | link | |
| Completed | 2021 | Artificial Intelligence Techniques for Gnc Design, Implementation And Verification | link | |
| Completed | 2021 | Artificial Intelligence for Terrain Relative Navigation in Unknown Environment (atena) | link | |
| Completed | 2021 | Cots AI in Space | Discovery > Early technology development | link |
| Completed | 2021 | Cots Ai Accelerators in Mixed-criticality High Performance Avionics for Reconfigurable Satellites | Discovery > Study | link |
| Completed | 2021 | De-risk assessment: Development of Machine Learning Models for Predicting the Evolution of Satellite Collision Risk in Time | link | |
| Completed | 2021 | Deep Learning for Space (Prime A) | link | |
| Completed | 2021 | Deep Learning for Space (Prime B) | link | |
| Completed | 2021 | Earth Observation And Ai for Arctic Sea Ice Concentration Mapping | Discovery > Co-sponsored Research | link |
| Completed | 2021 | Global Autonomous Navigation System for Planetary Approach And Landing | Discovery > Co-sponsored Research | link |
| Completed | 2021 | Machine Learning-based on Board Autonomy, Failure Prognostics And Detection | link | |
| Completed | 2021 | Machine Learning-driven Design Requirements for Future Esa Exo-life Finder Observatories | Discovery > Co-sponsored Research | link |
| Completed | 2021 | Modular Robotic System for Lunar Applications | Discovery > Early technology development | link |
| Completed | 2021 | Physics-aware Automated Machine Learning (pa-automl) for Earth Observations | Discovery > Co-sponsored Research | link |
| Completed | 2021 | Preparation of Enabling Space Technologies And Building Blocks: Gnss-ai On-edge - Onboard Detection of Gnss Signal Disturbances by Dnn | link | |
| Completed | 2021 | Robust Machine Learning Systems for Dependable Space Applications | link | |
| Completed | 2020 | A Novel Design Framework for Rapid And Efficient Artificial Intelligence Deployment for On-board Space Applications | Discovery > Co-sponsored Research | link |
| Completed | 2020 | Advanced Maritime Targets Recognition from SAR Images Exploiting Target's Micro Motions And AI | Discovery > Co-sponsored Research | link |
| Completed | 2020 | Artificial Intelligence (ai) And Natural Language Processing (nlp) to Support Space Engineering Activities | Discovery > Early technology development | link |
| Completed | 2020 | Artificial Intelligence And Drones Supporting the Detection And Mapping of Floating Aquatic Plastic Litter (aidmap) | Discovery > Early technology development | link |
| Completed | 2020 | Artificial Intelligence Techniques for GNC Design, Implementation And Verification | link | |
| Completed | 2020 | Artificial Intelligence for Space Traffic Management | Discovery > Co-sponsored Research | link |
| Completed | 2020 | Artificial Intelligence-assisted Optical Navigation for Early Characterization Phase of Small Body Missions | Discovery > Co-sponsored Research | link |
| Completed | 2020 | Cultural Landscapes Scanner (CLS): Earth Observation And Automated Detection of Subsoil Undiscovered Cultural Heritage Sites Via AI Approaches | Discovery > Co-sponsored Research | link |
| Completed | 2020 | Detection And Tracking of Large Marine Litter Based on High-resolution Remote Sensing Time Series, Machine Learning, And Ocean Current Modelling (trace) | Discovery > Early technology development | link |
| Completed | 2020 | Detection of Ocean Litter Plastics with Hyper-to-multispectral Infrared Neural Networks (dolphinn) | Discovery > Study | link |
| Completed | 2020 | Mbse Enhanced by Semantic Datalake Integration And Machinelearning Model Based System Engineering | Discovery > Early technology development | link |
| Completed | 2020 | Novel Estimation of Shallow Water Bathymetry Using Icesat-2 Laser Altimetry, Signal Processing And Machine Learning And Sentinel-2 Optical Data in a Highly Automated Approach | Discovery > Early technology development | link |
| Completed | 2020 | Remote Sensing for Marine Litter- Using Deep Learning Methods for Plastic Litter Detection from Satellite Remote Sensors | Discovery > Study | link |
| Completed | 2020 | Using Chatbot Technology to Assure Quality Knowledge Capture from Space Experts for Rapid Transfer through Systematic Learning. | Discovery > Co-sponsored Research | link |
| Completed | 2020 | Using Machine-learning to Characterise Failures of Space-born Atomic Clocks | Discovery > Co-sponsored Research | link |
| Completed | 2019 | Artificial Intelligence Techniques in On-board Avionics And Software | link | |
| Completed | 2019 | Generative Artificial Intelligence for High Performing Inversion Models | link | |
| Completed | 2019 | Proactive Performance Monitoring Engine Using Predictive Machine Learning Techniques for Systems Evaluated on Space And Non-space Use Cases | link | |
| Completed | 2019 | Synergic Use of Blockchain And Deep Learning for Space Data | link | |
| Completed | 2019 | for In-flight Artificial Intelligence Proof of Concept Experiments | link | |
| Completed | 2018 | Deep Learning in Space: Solar Flares Detection (dl-space) | link |
Agentic Workflow to support space projects.
ESTEC, Noordwijk, NL
First edition of AI@ESA: a two-day internal event bringing together the ESA AI community to share projects across directorates and discuss trends.
Visit event page
Wadern, DE
Automated Reasoning for Space Workshop Series (ar4space). Dagstuhl Seminar.
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ESOC, Darmstadt, DE
Third edition of the AI STAR Symposium — Artificial Intelligence on Theory, Application, and Research, bringing together industry, academia, policy, and research voices.
Visit event website
ESTEC, Noordwijk, NL
An ESA internal event bringing together everyone at ESA working in or around quantum computing, across directorates, domains, and disciplines.
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Remote
SpOC is a series of computational competitions targeting the genetic and evolutionary computation community. Jointly organized by ESA's AI and Data Science Sectionm, ESA's Advanced Concepts Team, in collab. with the Genetic and Evolutionary Computation Conference (GECCO).
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ESTEC, Noordwijk, NL
Second edition of AI@ESA: two-day internal ESA AI community event with technical deep dives, panels, lightning talks, and demos.
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Lisbon, PT
2nd edition of workshop. Co-located with FLoC 2026. Bridging the gap between research communities and foster the transfer of technology and methodologies from computer science.
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Lisbon, PT
Automated Reasoning for Space Workshop Series (ar4space). Co-located with FLoC 2026. Exploring how automated reasoning can address key challenges in future space logistics.
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ESTEC, Noordwijk, NL
Third edition of ESA's SPAICE Conference on AI for space exploration — autonomy, EO foundation models, and more.
Visit event websiteESTEC, Noordwijk, NL
Details and registration to follow — check back closer to the date.
Link coming soon
ESTEC, Noordwijk, NL
Details and registration to follow — check back closer to the date.
Link coming soonMore information about ESA funding programmes is available under Business with ESA. Competitive calls are published on ESA-Star.
| Title | Objective | Price Range | Open Date | Closing Date | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DIGITAL TWIN OF ATTITUDE AND ORBIT SENSORS - EXPRO+ | To develop and test a model for a digital twin of attitude and orbit control system (AOCS) sensors as well as toassess compatibility of this multi-physics model-based digital twin with on-board self-calibration employing datadriven techniques and withthe simplification of ground verification processes of new satellite platforms. | > €500k | TBC | TBC | esa-star publication |
| USER MANAGEMENT SERVICE (UM-SER) | =The User Management Service contract will encompass a comprehensive suite of offerings designed to support and enhance user interactions and experience for ESA and Third PartyEO Missions. | > €500k | TBC | TBC | esa-star publication |
| NON-ORTHOGONAL MULTIPLE ACCESS (NOMA) FOR BEYOND 5G (B5G) SATELLITE SYSTEMS (ARTES 4.0 SPL 5G/6G 3F.060) - EXPRO+ - RE-ISSUE | The objective is to develop, implement and test Non-Orthogonal Multiple Access (NOMA) on the uplink of a Beyond 5G (B5G)satellite system. The link shall be representative of3GPP-compliant Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN) scenarios. | > €500k | 14/09/2026 | 09/11/2026 13:00 CET | esa-star publication |
| GT1I-805GA SECURITY FRAMEWORK FOR AI APPLICATIONS (EXPRO+) | This activity will develop an'MLSecOps' framework, i.e. a comprehensive set of practices and tools, processes, and datasets to address new vulnerabilities. These will be integrated with operational MLOps infrastructure and validated in a space system context. | > €500k | 25/08/2026 | 12/10/2026 13:00 CET | esa-star publication |
| OPEN RADIO ACCESS NETWORK FRAMEWORK FOR THE END-TO-END MANAGEMENT OF REGENERATIVE NON-TERRESTRIAL-NETWORK ACCESS NODES (ARTES 4.0 SPL 5G/6G 3F.039) | The objective of the activity is to enhance the existing Open Radio Access Network (ORAN) framework to support 5G/6G Non-Terrestrial-Network (NTN) payloads, while integrating the ORAN adaptations with conventional ground segment control centres.Targeted Improvements:1) Adapt the of Enhanced Open Radio Access Network (ORAN) interfaces to support Non-Terrestrial-Network (NTN) 5G/6G payload2) Improve the ORAN Transport network layer3) Enable the Integration of ORAN interfaces into the ground segment operations for system interoperability4) Enable new applications for NTN payloads. | > €500k | 10/07/2026 | 07/10/2026 13:00 CET | esa-star publication |
| FUTURE EARTH OBSERVATION ARCHITECTURE FOR AI (ARCH-AI): NUMERICAL WEATHER PREDICTION (NWP) AND NUMERICAL OCEAN PREDICTION (NOP) - EXPRO PLUS | The ARCH-AI studies examines how the entire EO system-of-systems (space, ground, data, interfaces) must evolve to support AI-native and hybrid forecasting,while maintaining continuity, reliability, and European strategic autonomy. | €200-500k | 24/06/2026 | 18/09/2026 13:00 CET | esa-star publication |
| POWER MODULE FOR AUTONOMOUS SATELLITES (ARTES AT 4F.095) EXPRO + - RE-ISSUE (1-12220) | The objective of the activity is to design, manufacture and test a power module that will be integrated in an autonomous spacecraft architecture. | > €500k | 19/06/2026 | 18/09/2026 13:00 CET | esa-star publication |
| EMBEDDING AT SCALE - EXPRO+ | The objective of this activity is to develop technologies, methods and tools required to establish a system capable of generating, retrieving and utilizing embeddings at regional and global scale from multimodal EO data (e.g., Sentinel missions at different product levels, VHR data, SAR data...). | 15/06/2026 | 29/09/2026 13:00 CET | esa-star publication | |
| SOFTWARE DEFINED SATELLITE AVIONICS DEVELOPMENT ENVIRONMENT (ARTES AT 4G.046) EXPRO+ RE-ISSUE (1-12222) | The objective of the activity is to produce a software development environment able to configure and build the full avionics software of a satcom using a model-based approach. | > €500k | 09/06/2026 | 15/09/2026 13:00 CET | esa-star publication |
| Title | Description | Budget | Duration | Start/End TRL | Closing Date | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open Discovery Ideas Channel | Permanent open call for ideas that do not fit into any specific campaigns or channels. Submit innovative co-sponsored research, study or Early Technology Development (ETD) there. | 20k-90kE for research, 20k-100k for study, 50 - 175 K€ for ETDs | up to 18 months for ETDs | <4 | N/A | ESA OSIP |
31 activities focusing on topics that cover the deployment of AI throughout the engineering lifecycle, from early-stage design and simulation to operational autonomy, and data management, with collaborative tools, robust frameworks, and cutting-edge AI methods at the core. Each activity focuses on the development and application of AI techniques identified as having the greatest potential to enhance space system capabilities or to enable entirely new missions and applications: AI for mission design/engineering, AI for mission operations, and AI for data insights. Access here: GSTP Element 1: Develop
*Letter of Support from your Country Delegation is needed.
At ESA, you can contribute to projects that shape the future of space exploration, Earth observation, telecommunications, navigation and launch systems. We welcome students, graduates, researchers and experienced professionals from a wide range of disciplines, including engineering, science, IT, business and administration.
Whether you are looking for an internship, graduate opportunity, research fellowship or staff position, all current vacancies and programmes are available through the ESA Careers Portal.
Explore ESA CareersApplications are generally open to citizens of ESA Member States, Associate Members, European Cooperating States and Canada as a Cooperating State.