End-to-end satellite communication systems and associated services

Closed

Programme Category

EU Competitive Programmes

Programme Name

Horizon Europe (2021-2027)

Programme Description

Horizon Europe is the European Union (EU) funding programme for the period 2021 – 2027, which targets the sectors of research and innovation. The programme’s budget is around € 95.5 billion, of which € 5.4 billion is from NextGenerationEU to stimulate recovery and strengthen the EU’s resilience in the future, and € 4.5 billion is additional aid.

Programme Details

Identifier Code

HORIZON-CL4-2021-SPACE-01-11

Call

End-to-end satellite communication systems and associated services

Summary

The expected outcomes of this topic will enable flexible end-to-end satellite communication system (including both space and ground segment) with high productivity and growing data and service requirements. Competitiveness will be strengthened by providing growing capacity per system, as well as flexibility and agility to face uncertainties and market evolutions and improving system availability and latency to deliver high-quality experience to end-users.

Detailed Call Description

The areas of R&I, which needs to be addressed to tackle the above-mentioned expected outcomes are:

1) R&I on secure quantum communications through the development of components for quantum satellite communication systems as well as of space technology components and systems necessary for Quantum Key Distributions (QKD), e.g. space compatible Quantum Random Number Generators (QRNG), single or entangled photon sources, decoy state systems, associated electronics, systems for key management and storage, single photon detectors and super accurate pointing mechanisms, protocols and standards, quantum specific on-board computers as well as novel user authentication mechanisms.

2) R&I on ground segment, infrastructures, protocols, development of virtual network and application functions as well as networks including end-user terminals and equipment considering the handling of a range of new needs (e.g. introduced by satellite constellations, increasing data rates, flexible ultra-high throughput satellites, higher on-board and on-ground-autonomy, millimetre wavelength communication in Q/V, W-band), providing scalable and resilient solutions while reducing costs.

Proposals are expected to promote cooperation between different actors (industry, SMEs and research institutions) and consider opportunities to quickly turn technological innovation into commercial space usage.

Call Total Budget

€12,00 million

Financing percentage by EU or other bodies / Level of Subsidy or Loan

100%

EU contribution per project: between € 4,00 and € 6,00 million

Thematic Categories

  • Research, Technological Development and Innovation

Eligibility for Participation

  • Researchers/Research Centers/Institutions

Eligibility For Participation Notes

  • Some activities, resulting from this topic, may involve using classified background and/or producing of security sensitive results (EUCI and SEN).
  • Participation is limited to legal entities established in Member States, Iceland, Norway and the United Kingdom.

The eligibility of entities established in the UK to participate is conditional upon reciprocity of access to equivalent UK programmes for entities established in Member States, which will be assessed by the Commission as soon as such programmes are established and in any event before the signature of the grant agreements. Should the UK not open the participation in its relevant programmes to entities established in Member States, this condition would not be met and entities established in the UK will not be eligible to participate in this topic.

Call Opening Date

02/11/2021

Call Closing Date

16/02/2022

National Contact Point(s)

Research and Innovation Foundation
29a Andrea Michalakopoulou Street, 1075 Nicosia
T.Th. 23422, 1683 Nicosia
+357 22205000
Email: support@research.org.cy

Dr Angelos Ntantos
Scientific Officer
Telephone: 35722205033
Email: antantos@research.org.cy

Dr Ioannis Theodorou

Scientific Officer
Telephone: 35722205038
Email: itheodorou@research.org.cy

(Publish Date: 03/12/2021-for internal use only)

EU Contact Point

Εuropean Commission, Directorate-General for Research and Innovation

https://ec.europa.eu/info/departments/research-and-innovation_en#contact