ESA's Open Space Innovation Platform (OSIP) seeks novel ideas for new space research activities. Campaigns invite solutions to specific problems whilst Channels welcome ideas on more general topics. Those run by Discovery & Preparation, including the Open Discovery Ideas Channel, specifically look for ideas that could be implemented as system studies, early technology developments, or PhD or postdoc research co-funded by ESA and a university.

Discovery & Preparation started the following activities in 2023 as a result of ideas submitted via OSIP. Click on the title of an activity to find out more via the Activities Portal.

Channel: Open Discovery Ideas Channel

OrbitGPT - Generative Astrodynamics, University of Strathclyde (UK) – implemented January 2024

High-efficiency high-power laser beaming for outer space systems, University of Santiago de Compostela (ES) – implemented January 2024

Bringing change detection on board satellites for low-latency damage assessment, Politecnico di Torino (IT) – implemented January 2024

Lunar made Propellant for rocket propulsion based on metal fuels, Technische Universiteit Eindhoven (NL) – implemented January 2024

Compliant structures with integrated passive damping for innovative precision guiding systems, CSEM SA (CH) – implemented January 2024

Photon down-conversion layers for boosting the stability and efficiency of silicon photovoltaic modules in an extraterrestrial environment, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology - KIT (DE) – implemented January 2024

Investigation of the potential of robust and simple optical frequency converters for future space lidars for gas sensing, ONERA. Office National d'Etudes et Recherches Aérospatiales (FR), implemented February 2024

Use of Active Line-of-Sight Stabilization and Adaptive Optics to reduce the on-ground casualty risk of optical payload, Thales Alenia Space SAS (FR), implemented February 2024

Protecting Earth from the uncertAinty of spaCe debris re-Entry (PEACE), University of Strathclyde (UK), implemented February 2024

AirWheel – A reaction wheel with Gas Bearings supplied with ultrasonic pumps, Astro- und Feinwerktechnik GmbH (DE), implemented March 2024

ESAPCA: enabling the analysis of extremely large data sets by scalable and hardware-accelerated PCA and DMD, DLR - German Aerospace Center (DE), implemented March 2024

Very Wide-Band Risley Lens Beam-Steerable Antenna Design with a Low Profile, University of Aalborg (DK), implemented March 2024

Development of a safe, sustainable, and performant space welding unit, ArcSpace (FR), implemented March 2024

Toward a Foundation Model for Multi-Sensor Earth Observation Data with Language Semantics, EPFL (CH), implemented March 2024

Autonomous AI-aided relative navigation for partially known uncooperative targets: tackling uncertainties in close-proximity operations, Politecnico di Milano (IT), implemented March 2024

Magnetic shielding and Novel Material Analysis to combat Excessive Oxidisation in a Water Electrolysis Hall Effect Thruster (WET-HET), Imperial College of Science, Technology (GB), implemented March 2024

An energetic pulsed electron beam pencil: a unique tool for removing dust off surfaces in space, National Institute for Laser, Plasma and Radiation Physics (RO), implemented March 2024

Perception Enabled Model Free Control for Space System Landing, Technische Universität Dresden (DE), implemented March 2024

CodexTec – A Testbench for the Exploration and Exploitation of Open-Source Large Language Models for Enhanced Software Engineering Processes in European Space Projects, Solenix Engineering GmbH (DE), implemented March 2024

Novel thermal management applications based on pulsating heat pipes, ZARM Technik AG (DE), implemented March 2024

Resource efficient food production system for space travel to create different fresh texturized protein foods, utilizing algae-fungi symbiosis, Mycorena AB (SE), implemented March 2024

GHz Organic Printed Transistors - “GHioZa”, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IT), implemented March 2024

UDSM AI-Engine for Reliable, Energy-Efficient Next-Generation Satellites, Università di Pisa (IT), implemented March 2024

Plasma Actuators for Separation Control in Over-Expanded Rocket Nozzles (PARSEC), Politecnico di Torino (IT), implemented March 2024

Synthetic Tracking in SST and NEO searches, ITTI SP. Z O.O. (PL), implemented March 2024

Environment Controlled Calibration Chamber for CPT testing on extra-terrestrial soils, Norwegian Geotechnical Institute (NO), implemented April 2024

Revolutionizing Space Lubrication: Elevating Tribological Excellence with Flake Graphene Innovations, Astronika sp. z o.o. (PL), implemented April 2024

Manufacturing and repairing of micro-patterns for electronics in micro-gravity through High Precision Capillarity Printing (HPCAP), Maana Electric SA (LU), implemented April 2024

A Novel Approach for Distributed Monitoring of Volatile Organic Contamination in Cleanrooms, Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule (ETH) Zürich (CH), implemented April 2024

SpaceSite Lab – A Full Scale Moon and Mars Test and Research Facility, Danish Technological Institute (DK), implemented April 2024

Enabling the use of SoCs embedding a Machine Learning accelerator in satellites and institutional missions, University of Trento (IT), implemented April 2024

Additive manufacturing of adobe with clay water-matrix systems for radiation shielding on Mars, Technische Universität Berlin (DE), implemented April 2024

Innovative Design Concepts for Miniaturizing Quantum NV Diamond Magnetometers for Space Applications, Hasselt University (BE), implemented April 2024

Contact-free biomarker detection during space missions for remote astronaut health monitoring, Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule (ETH) Zürich (CH), implemented April 2024

Remineralisation of recycled/mined water by using Lunar/Martian regolith and carbon dioxide, Tomas Bata University in Zlin (CZ), implemented April 2024

High-fidelity phase-field simulations of dynamic fragmentation upon vehicle re-entry, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (CH), implemented April 2024

Space Based Radar and Optical Surveillance System for LEO small space debris high accuracy orbit determination, Airbus Defence and Space SAS (FR), implemented April 2024

Investigation of Printing EEE Components using Additive Manufacturing Methods, The Manufacturing Technology Centre (UK), implemented April 2024

Precise Methane Leak Detection from Orbit, Honeywell Limited (CA), implemented June 2024

Volume Bragg Grating Directional Filter, Honeywell Limited (CA), implemented June 2024

Moss On Mars - MOM, University of Naples Federico II (IT), implemented July 2024

Integrated Printed and EEE Components in a Miniaturised Thin Film Sensing System for Planetary Exploration, University of Swansea (UK), implemented July 2024

Enhancing CubeSat Communication: A Study on Beam Steering Antenna Systems, Silicon Austria Labs GmbH (AT), implemented July 2024

NEUROSPACE: Pioneering Neuromorphic AI Acceleration in Space-Grade Microprocessors, Frontgrade Gaisler AB (SE), implemented July 2024

Quantum computing applied in Space data processing, Huld s.r.o. (CZ), implemented July 2024

TOMOTSU. Tomographic detection of Tsunamis, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (ES), implemented July 2024

From Shooting Stars to Satellite Safety: Revolutionize Meteoroid Analysis for Space Infrastructure Risk and Interplanetary Exploration, The University of Western Ontario (CA), implemented July 2024

Hardware Checkers for Secure Space Applications, Politecnico di Milano (IT), implemented July 2024

VERSA: Vacuum Extraction and Refining of Salt and Alloys for ISRU Molten Salt Electrolysis, Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LU), implemented July 2024

Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces for space communication, Silicon Austria Labs GmbH (AT), implemented July 2024

Alternative Microfabrication Processes for Resource-efficient and Sustainable Thin Film Space Solar Cells, Fraunhofer Gesellschaft (DE), implemented July 2024

Advancing Elastocaloric Cooling Solutions through 3D Printing of Superelastic Materials for Space (SuperCaloric), Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche - CNR (IT), implemented July 2024

Ovarian follicle-on-chip model for the investigation and treatment of microgravity-dependent abnormalities by using a machine learning approach, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IT), implemented July 2024

Interferential light-direction sensor, Fundación Universitaria Balmes (ES), implemented August 2024

Automated surrogate modeling of complex spacecraft dynamics for efficient analysis and system design, Technische Universiteit Eindhoven (NL), implemented August 2024

A hybrid AM system for in-situ processing of metal and ceramic multi-material parts, Technical University Berlin (DE), implemented August 2024

Compact Betavoltaic Energy sources (CBS) : development of 60 year life span electric generator through nuclear waste recycling, DIAMFAB (FR), implemented August 2024

Enabling Laser Powder Bed Fusion of Reduced Regolith Simulant for In-Situ Additive Manufacturing in Lunar Missions: Analysis of Electrochemical and Carbothermal Reduction Techniques, Politecnico di Milano (IT), implemented September 2024

A hybrid AM system for in-situ processing of metal and ceramic multi-material parts, Technical University Berlin (DE), implemented September 2024

Compact Betavoltaic Energy sources (CBS): development of 60 year life span electric generator through nuclear waste recycling, DIAMFAB (FR), implemented September 2024

Developing an end-to-end European lunar exploration architecture embedding human spaceflight constraints, Politecnico di Milano (IT), implemented September 2024

DiSPERSE: Dismantleable Structural Polymers for Environmentally-Responsible Space Exploration, Surface Science Solutions Ltd (GB), implemented September 2024

Geopolymer Radiation Armor as Alternative to Leader Solutions (GRAALS), RIDERPLAST SAS (FR), implemented October 2024

Increase rocket engine performance by the use of standing detonation waves, Romanian Research and Development Institute for Gas Turbines (RO), implemented October 2024

Bio-inspired deployable satellite reflector, Ingeniera Prosix Sl (ES), implemented November 2024

Lunar Robotic Construction with Raw Regolith, University of Toronto (CA), implemented November 2024

Revealing the impact of Gravity on Skeletal Muscle physiology, LUMC – Leids Universitair Medisch Centrum (NL), implemented November 2024

Data-driven modeling of non-equilibrium effects and gas-surface interactions during reentry (IONISE), CNAM – Conservatoire National Arts et Métiers (FR), implemented November 2024

Bio-inspired deployable satellite reflector, Ingenieria Prosix Sl (ES), implemented November 2024

Lunar Robotic Construction with Raw Regolith, University of Toronto (CA), implemented November 2024

JESD204B/C IP Core for NanoXplore, IngeniArs S.r.l. (IT), implemented November 2024

BIPD4Space - Ultracompact birefringent filter for Brillouin-assisted space elastography, Specto Srl (IT), implemented November 2024

Ultra-lightweight CubeSat chassis enabled by anisotropic topology optimization of composite materials, INEGI (PT), implemented November 2024

Ion yield improvement of EP propellants, AEDUS Space Ltd (HU), implemented November 2024

LightStation – Mobile Light Field Station for Remote Geological Sampling and Imaging, VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland LTD (FI), implemented November 2024

Use of Future LEO Mega-Constellations to Improve the Space Situational Awareness (SSA) Via a GNSS-Based Passive Multistatic Radar (G-PMR) Service, Thales Alenia Space France SAS (FR), implemented November 2024

Overlay signal transmission for satellite downlink channels SONIC, M.B.I. S.r.l. (IT), implemented November 2024

Development and validation of protein-carbohydrate based pathogen capture technology (PCT) for biological decontamination suitable for space flights, Aquila Bioscience (IE), implemented November 2024

THERMIX: Thermal Heat Exchange with liquid Metal Interface material for eXcellent cooling, Thales Alenia Space France SAS (FR), implemented November 2024

Fault-tolerant deep networks by hardware-aware compression, EPFL - École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (CH), implemented December 2024

Lowering laser stability requirements through optical atomic clock arrays with integrated photonics, Paul Scherrer Institute (CH), implemented December 2024

Microreactor Utilisation for Lunar Exploration (MULE), Technical University of Munich (DE), implemented December 2024

Impacts of space Debris ablation on Earth's Atmospheric System (IDEAS), University of Leeds (UK), implemented December 2024

Exploration of Hot Carrier Injection mechanisms and impact mitigation by design techniques for InfraRed Focal Plane Array operated at cryogenic temperatures, ISAE-SUPAERO (FR), implemented December 2024

Spectral filter prototype by utilizing Silicon-Air thin film metastructures, VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland (FI), implemented December 2024

Exploring the Essential Tool to expand the ORM ecosystem ETSORM, GMV Aerospace and Defence SA (ES), implemented December 2024

Sustainable Future: Advancing Circular Life Support Systems

Broad-range biopolymer manufacturing from recycled carbon and CO2, VITO - Vlaamse Instelling voor Technologisch Onderzoek (BE), implemented July 2024

Reactive extrusion to maximise lignocellulosic biomass valorization, VITO - Vlaamse Instelling voor Technologisch Onderzoek (BE), implemented July 2024

Microalgae based GreenLung technology boosts air quality by virus elimination, Redwire Space nv (BE), implemented July 2024

Limnospira-based edible bioplastic thin films for packaging, Blue Horizon SarL (LU), implemented July 2024

Investigation of the potential of raw and hydrolysed Spirulina biomass for biocontrol and plant biostimulation, Nantes Université (FR), implemented August 2024

System Studies for the Circular Economy in Space

Towards a Circular Space Economy: Satellite Refurbishment and Upgrading Services for Orbital Sustainability, Astroscale Ltd (UK), implemented July 2024

ROBOFAB: Robotic Fabrication for Space Applications, Kinetik Space (DE), implemented July 2024

LOOP: Preparing the foundations of circular on-orbit economy through a commercial refurbishment mission of a spacecraft in GEO<, Growbotics Space Ltd (UK), implemented July 2024

Managed Recycling Orbit operated as a Multi-Agent System, Space scAvengers (SK), implemented September 2024

Innovative Mission Concepts Enabled by Swarms of CubeSats

AltiCube+ - An Aggregated CubeSats Swarm for Long Fixed-baseline Radar Altimetry, TU Delft (NL), implemented June 2024

COMCUBE-S: A swarm of CubeSat_x0002_sized Compton telescopes for all-sky detection and polarisation measurements of gamma-ray bursts, University College Dublin (IE), implemented July 2024

Small Missions for Exploration – Destination the Moon

SER3NE - Selene's Explorer for Roughness, Regolith, Resources, Neutrons and Elements, University of Oslo (NO), implemented November 2024

Moonraker – Mapping the Moon with high resolution LiDAR, NUVIEW GmbH (DE), implemented November 2024

Máni mission, University of Copenhagen (DK), implemented December 2024

LUREPOS – Lunar Relativistic Positioning System, Aalta Lab d.o.o. (SI), implemented December 2024

Open Channel

Transfer of sea ice freeboard from CryoSat-2 to Sentinel-1 using deep learning, Technical University of Denmark - DTU (DK), implemented June 2024

Substrateless root module for hydroponics crop cultivation in fractional gravity, NTNU Samfunnsforskning AS - CIRiS (NO), implemented June 2024

Space-Gels – Aerogels for insulation and contaminant degradation in habitats and spaceships, German Aerospace Center – DLR (DE), implemented June 2024

Bread Board Development of a Telescope with a Steerable Line of Sight (OSTEELOS BB), OHB SYSTEM AG (DE), implemented June 2024

Data Retrieval Method For A Novel Wavefront Sensor Based On An Axicon Lens, OHB SYSTEM AG (DE), implemented July 2024

Scalable Magnetic Couplings: Feasibility Study for Sealed Motor Drive Elements with Overdrive Protection for Operation in Extreme Environments, ESR Technology LTD (UK), implemented July 2024

Assembled 110-GHz photodetector with Space requirements, Versics AG (CH), implemented July 2024

Dual-band TT&C antenna for LEO constellations, ANYWAVES (FR), implemented July 2024

Photometry of Potentially Hazardous Asteroids in crowded fields, University of Edinburgh (UK)), implemented July 2024

Computational spectropolarimeter with asymmetric photonic crystals, Stichting Nederlandse wetenschappelijk onderzoek instituten (NL), implemented July 2024

LunarDBCR – Lunar Dust Biotoxic Chemical Reactivity: quantitative detection, University of Patras - UPAT -Special Account for Research Grants (GR), implemented August 2024

PASTA: Post-Activable Smart Tape Adhesive, CREATHES (FR), implemented August 2024

INCITE - Innovative Ionic Liquid-enzyme tandems for enhanced biomass degradation, Ghent University (BE), implemented September 2024

From plant biomass and sidestreams to tissue engineering and biocomposite production, NTNU Samfunnsforskning AS - CIRIS (NO), implemented September 2024

Probing the fundamental frequency linewidth limit of an active optical clock, University Of Copenhagen (DK), implemented September 2024

Myco Space Solutions: Fungal Biotechnology for Sustainable Space Resource Exploration, University of Edinburgh (UK), implemented September 2024

EOImageNET - multiscale global dataset and DNN model for object detection on optical EO data, Tuatara Ventures (PL), implemented September 2024

Enabling AM for high strength aluminum alloys, VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland ltd (FI), implemented September 2024

Thin-film Lithium Tantalate on Insulator Photonics, Luxtelligence S.A. (CH), implemented September 2024

Multifunctional Sandwich ComposIte Space Debris DeteCtor (MUSIC), Politecnico di Bari (IT), implemented September 2024

Starweave: Sensing-enabled flame-resistant smart textiles for the next generation of space garments, AGH University of Krakow (PL), implemented September 2024

Evaluation of 112Gbps high speed serial link technology for digital beam forming antenna's, Iroc Technologies SA (FR), implemented September 2024

Thin-film Lithium Tantalate on Insulator Photonics, Luxtelligence S.A. (CH), implemented October 2024

HyperComm - A communication system for hypersonic vehicles travelling through atmosphere, Grey Consultants (UK), implemented October 2024

3D Printing with Spirulina and Regolith based materials, BioX Technologies s.r.o. (SK), implemented October 2024

EOLE - Revolutionizing European satellite optical communications through cutting-edge advancements in turbulence prediction and real-time monitoring, ONERA - Office national d'études et de recherches aérospatiales (FR), implemented October 2024

Insights into the Chemistry of Atmospheric Re-entry of jUnked Spacecraft (ICARUS), Agencia Estatatal Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (ES), implemented October 2024

Onboard Artificial Intelligence for Adaptive SAR Raw Data Compression at Global Scale, German Aerospace Center - DLR (DE), implemented October 2024

VLEO - New ideas for the nearest of outer space

AEROVEL: Aerodrag Estimation for Very Low Earth Orbits, Thales Alenia Space UK Limited (UK), implemented April 2024

Quality of Service for Internet network connection based on Multi-Orbit with use VLEO, MKW Marcin Wilk (PL), implemented April 2024

VLEO Wind Measurements, Airbus Defence and Space S.A.U. (ES), implemented April 2024

MISTRAL: Miniaturized Innovative Space Thruster for operation with Rarefied Air in Low orbit, Celeste S.r.l. (IT), implemented April 2024

Developing a monitoring system for global oceanic plastic debris through the utilisation of imaging spectroscopy on low-altitude satellites, TU Delft (NL), implemented June 2024

Aerodynamically Enhanced Manoeuvrability for Responsive VLEO Space Platforms, NERA. Office National d'Etudes et Recherches Arospatiales (FR), implemented June 2024

Extrapolation of Inductively Heated Plasma Wind Tunnel Testing Method to Study Gas-Surface Interactions in VLEO, University of Stuttgart (DE), implemented October 2024