Open opportunities with ESA Navigation

This article was last updated on 23/06/2026.  

FutureNAV

The FutureNAV programme is ESA’s forward-looking navigation programme that matures and demonstrates promising system concepts and upstream technologies for institutional or commercial use.

Celeste In-Orbit Preparatory programme

• Invitation to Tender: The Celeste In-Orbit Preparatory (IOP) programme follows on the current Celeste in-orbit demonstration activities. It will prepare European industry to be ready for a possible future LEO-PNT operational system for the European Union, adding a new layer to the European PNT ecosystem with Galileo at its core, as well as unlock global commercial opportunities and innovation, reinforcing Europe’s leadership in emerging PNT markets.
• More about Celeste: ESA - Celeste
• More about the ITT (note that it may take a few minutes before the page fully loads): Celeste In-Orbit Preparatory phase development and industrialisation.
• Closing date ITT:  18 July 2026
• Eligible for:  AT, BE, CH, CZ, DE, ES, FI, FR, GB, HU, IT, LU, NL, NO, PL, PT, RO, SE

Celeste In-Orbit Demonstrator

• Call for ideas: ESA is offering interested third parties from ESA Participating States to participate in the experimentation phase of the Celeste In-Orbit Demonstrator (IOD). This is a unique opportunity to test and validate innovative positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) concepts in real-world conditions using ESA's LEO-PNT demonstrator infrastructure.
• More about Celeste: ESA - Celeste
• More about the call: Call for LEO-PNT experimentation opportunities
• Closing date: ongoing call for proposals
• Eligible for: AT, BE, CH, CZ, DE, ES, FI, FR, GU, HU, IT, LU, NL, NO, PL, PT, RO, SE

OpSTAR

• Invitation to Tender: ESA is launching OpSTAR, an in-orbit demonstration mission to validate how optical technologies can reshape the architecture of satellite navigation, enable greater accuracy and strengthen resilience against interference.
• More about OpSTAR: ESA to develop optical technology for navigation
• More about the ITT: Optical technology for satellite navigation
• Closing date: 8 July 2026
• Eligible for: BE, CA, CH, CZ, DE, ES, GB, IT, LV, NL, NO, PL, SE

Future PNT Demonstrators

• Call for Ideas: ESA is seeking ideas on disruptive and early-stage technologies that should be further developed to shape the future of satellite navigation. These ideas will develop and validate positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) technologies and system concepts for future In-Orbit Demonstration (IOD) missions.
• More about the call: Future PNT Demonstrators: Call for Ideas
• Closing date: ongoing call for proposals
• Eligible for: ESA Member States, Associate Members or Cooperating States

AI digital payload technologies for PNT

• Invitation to Tender: This study will investigate the use of reconfigurable, software-defined PNT payloads capable of responding to dynamic environments. The aim is to mature new PNT system concepts, technologies and payloads, with the objective of supporting future in-orbit missions contributing to resilient PNT systems.
• More about the ITT: AI digital payload technologies for PNT
• Closing date: extended to 17 August 2026
• Eligible for: BE, CA, CH, CZ, DE, ES, GB, IT, LV, NL, NO, PL, SE

Quantum-enabled PNT demonstrator

• Invitation to Tender: This study will investigate the use of quantum technologies to enhance future PNT systems in terms of performance, autonomy and resilience. The aim is to mature new PNT system concepts related to technologies and payloads, with the objective of supporting future in-orbit PNT missions.
• More about the ITT: Quantum-enabled PNT demonstrator
• Closing date: extended to 17 August 2026
• Eligible for: BE, CA, CH, CZ, DE, ES, GB, IT, LV, NL, NO, PL, SE

NAVISP

ESA’s Navigation Innovation and Support Programme (NAVISP) stimulates PNT market growth, fosters national PNT and develops and commercialises PNT products across the entire value chain. NAVISP is organised into three main elements, with different opportunities throughout the year.

NAVIPS Element 1

• NAVISP Element 1 (Innovation). A yearly workplan is developed based on promising ideas, and these ideas are implemented through competitive tenders.
• Call for ideas/proposals: https://navisp.esa.int/page/submit-new-ideas
• Open ITTs: https://navisp.esa.int/opportunity?status=open&category=itt

NAVIPS Element 2

• NAVISP Element 2 (Competitiveness).
• Permanent call for proposals: Open Space Innovation Platform - OSIP - Channel: ‪PNT Competitiveness - NAVISP Element 2

NAVIPS Element 3

• NAVISP Element 3 (supporting ESA Member States).
• Permanent call for proposals: Open Space Innovation Platform - OSIP - Channel: ‪NAVISP Element 3: Support Member States

NAVIPS Industry Day

• Event: NAVISP Industry Days, 14-16 October, Rome, Italy. NAVISP Industry Days 2026 offers a unique platform for both established leaders and emerging innovators within the global PNT ecosystem. The event is designed to facilitate collaboration among well-established companies, as well as newcomers across Europe and Canada, eager to make a significant impact in the fast-evolving PNT sector.
• Agenda here: LINK 
• Registration here: LINK  

Conferences and Workshops

10th GNSS Science Colloquium

• Scientific and Fundamental Aspects of GNSS, 10^th International Colloquium at the École de Technologie Supérieure (ÉTS) in Montréal, Canada from 7-9 October. This colloquium brings together members of the European scientific community and their international partners to discuss the use of Galileo and other GNSS satellites for scientific purposes.
• Date: 7-9 October 2026
• More information & registration: 10th GNSS Science Colloquium

Workshop at the European Space Deep-Tech Innovation Centre

• Workshop hosted by the European Space Deep-Tech Innovation Centre in Villigen, Switzerland. The workshop will provide an opportunity for industry and research institutes to come together to develop new ideas and foster new collaborations. Information on registration will be available soon.
• Date: 9 September 2026
• More information & registration soon

Education and Outreach

ESA Academy Navigation Training Course

• Organised in collaboration with ESA Academy, the annual ESA Academy Navigation Training Course gives university students the opportunity to explore Europe’s cutting-edge navigation programmes, from Galileo and EGNOS to Celeste to Moonlight. The course includes a mix of lectures and hands-on exercises and even includes a tour of the Galileo in-orbit test facilities in Redu, Belgium.
• More information: ESA - Navigation Training Course now open for application
• Registration for the next edition will open in Q1 of 2027.

ESA/JRC International Summerschool on GNSS

• Every year, ESA and the European Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC) team up to provide young researchers with a comprehensive overview of satellite navigation. During the nearly two-week course, participants learn from internationally renowned scientists and specialists, apply new knowledge with practical exercises and lab work and develop an idea into a product or service.
• More information: ESA/JRC International Summerschool on GNSS
• Registration for the next edition will open in Q1 of 2027.

ESA's Design Booster programme

• ESA’s Design Booster programme is looking for multidisciplinary student teams from universities and tertiary institutions across Europe and Canada to gain hands-on experience of what it takes to fly a mission. Selected teams will work with ESA specialists as they design their mission, get hands-on training and tailored feedback and have access to cutting edge test facilities.
• More info: ESA - Satellite teams wanted for Design Booster
• Deadline: 2 October 2026

Open Positions

Interested in joining us? We regularly open new positions at all of our locations. Browse current vacancies here.

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