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.
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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