As well as offering research and development Invitations to Tender through its EMITS procurement system, ESA has a number of opportunities for firms to present proposals for new R&D. These include periodic and permanent Calls for Proposals and Announcements of Opportunity (AO) across a range of ESA technology programmes:
 
TRP - Innovation Triangle Initiative
 
Part of ESA's Basic Technology Research Programme (TRP), the Innovation Triangle Initiative (ITI) supports the identification, validation and development of disruptive space innovations based on new concepts and ideas, giving preference to innovations coming originally from non-space industrial or research sectors. The submitters of these contacts are supported through seed money, technical support and networking opportunities.  
 
TRP – Startiger
 
This initiative aims at fast concurrent prototyping of advanced technology. It is named after the first project carried out in 2002 that ended with a prototype of a camera operating in the 100’s of GHx range, the associated technologies and processes.It is planned to isse yearly calls in EMITS.
 
 
GSTP - Permanent Open Announcement of Opportunity
 
This permanently open AO mechanism within ESA's General Support Technology Programme (GSTP) is to offer industry a mechanism for submitting proposals for company strategic or market-oriented activities in order to strengthen their competitiveness, giving ESA the means to react promptly to such industrial proposals. The AO is aimed at implementing well-targeted industry-led activities, so it complements the GSTP work plan which is mainly involved in preparing technologies in support of ESA-led programmes. The AO also covers technology transfer activities.
 
 
ESA Telecom ARTES 3-4 – Permanently Open Call for Proposals
 
ESA Telecom's ARTES 3-4 programme for satcom R&D includes a permanently open call for proposals from industry with the purpose of developing exploitation-ready products with a strong business plan, proceeding on a 50 percent shared funding basis.
 
 
ESA Telecom ARTES 5.2– Permanently Open Call for Proposals
 
ARTES 5.2, or non-competitive Industry Initiated activities are identified and proposed by Industry through an Open Call for Proposals, a mechanism allowing Industry to submit one or several proposals at any time. The Open Call for Proposals for this element is published on ESA's Electronic Tendering System (EMITS) under AO/6000.
 
 
Technology Transfer – Open Call System for Technology Transfer Feasibility Study proposals
 
A permanently Open Call for Technology Transfer feasibility study proposals allows both space and non-space organisations as well as individuals to assess the feasibility of a possible transfer of a technology from a space donor to a non-space receiver. Such a study aims at assessing the potential as well as the limitations of the technology, the technical barriers for the transfer and ways of overcoming them.
 
 
Business with the Incubator – Open Call for Proposals
 
ESA's Business Incubation has an open call for proposals. The main requirement for acceptance is that the applicant's product or service is based on a transfer of space technology and/or the use of a space system in a non-space environment. Business Incubation is available at the following ESA establishments: ESTEC in the Netherlands, ESOC in Germany and ESRIN in Italy, with the same application procedure for all.
 
 
Newcomers' Initiative
 
TIA offers an exciting opportunity for Small and Medium sized Enterprises (SMEs) entering into the field of satellite communications with the Initiative for ESA Telecom Newcomers. The Newcomers' Initiative is designed to support SMEs through the early stages of research and development of services for the satcom market. The Always Open Call for Proposals for this element is published on ESA's Electronic Tendering System (EMITS) under AO/1-5658/08/.
 
 
Last update: 31 March 2009