Build the future of the European space sector with ESA

ESA Discovery activities focus on innovative and disruptive ideas and lay the groundwork for ESA’s future endeavours. They cover diverse topics from all of ESA Strategy 2040 goals. The Discovery element encourages in particular high risk – high reward concepts in their earliest phases of development (up to TRL 4), with the potential to change dramatically the space sector, rather than seeking incremental developments. In order to capture these potentially future-shaping ideas, Open Space Innovation Platform (OSIP) launched in 2019, becoming the main gateway for new ideas into ESA.

What is new?

The new Open Discovery Ideas Channel offers an improved overall experience for participants, replacing its previous version. We integrated user feedback and lessons learned from ESA’s partners in industry and academia, collected in early 2025 through a dedicated channel. We would like to thank everyone who got involved for their valuable insights.

To start, find all relevant information about the proposal process in the description of the Channel. When submitting an idea, the updated and simplified Idea Form now includes the option to select an idea category, depending on which you will be assigned a qualified idea coach and be able to reach more easily relevant ESA experts.

The new overview of the implementation schemes is an easy to follow guide to the three paths available to support innovative projects.

If your idea is selected, the activity will be funded by the Discovery element of ESA’s Basic Activities and implemented as a Cooperative Agreement with ESA. You can find more information here. We are constantly working on improving time to contract and streamlining processes, while keeping the highest standard for the innovation process.

About ESA Discovery

ESA Discovery runs high-risk and blue-sky R&D that might lead to potentially game-changing concepts and technologies. It sources ideas for new activities from industry, academia and the general public through (OSIP). Campaigns for specific ideas and more open Channels are regularly launched, and ideas submitted under these are reviewed.

Authors of the most novel ideas are invited to submit full proposals for funding. Each activity lasts up to two years and the results serve as baseline designs for future ESA missions across all ESA directorates.

The insights from ESA Discovery activities are used by ESA and its Member States to decide about the implementation of new programmes and shaping the future of the European space sector.

Join the Open Discovery Ideas Channel

We are looking for revolutionary ideas that could change dramatically the European space landscape. Do you think you have such an idea? Check the Open Channel and submit your idea. At this point you don’t need a full proposal, but a novel concept with the potential of becoming the next big technological development in space.

We take a chance on high risk, revolutionary ideas and support the project teams throughout all the phases of the project, financially, with access to ESA experts and matching them with other actors in our extensive community. Depending on the results, there is the possibility of continuing and maturing the idea through other ESA programmes as well.

The topics selected can be related to any of ESA’s domains. For example, at the moment two teams are researching how to build AI-based autonomous navigation for close proximity operations in orbit and how to 3D print radiation shields from local materials on Mars.

We look forward to receiving your ideas and working together to shape the future of the European space sector!