Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
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How can a company work for ESA?
Any company in the ESA member states and Canada can bid for an ESA Invitation to Tender (ITT). ESA's Invitation to Tender on-line system (EMITS) lists all open ITTs. Companies registered with ESA can download all the specifications. In addition EMITS provides information on Intended ITTs, which the Agency is planning to issue in the near future.
How can my company apply for ESA contracts?
The method is to submit a bid for an Open Invitation to Tender. Consult ESA's Invitation to Tender on-line system (EMITS).
How do I get information about standards to be used in space projects?
You can consult the European Cooperation for Space Standardisation (ECSS system) website.
How can I verify that my company fulfil the SME criteria?
You can check-out the requirements which must be fulfilled for a company to be considered a small- and medium-sized enterprise (SME) at the Definition of Small & Medium sized Enterprises page.
If you are in doubt you can also initiate the registration of your company at the SME database. You will be added to the ESA database of SMEs if ESA is able to validate that your enterprise conforms to the definition of an SME.