扒哥吃瓜

1. Overview听

The Advanced Research in Telecommunication Systems (ARTES) is the European Space Agency鈥檚听(ESA)听flagship听听for satellite communications. It supports the development of听new technologies, services and applications across the space,听ground听and network segments, helping UK companies bring innovative satcom solutions to market.听听

For the UK, ARTES is a strategic mechanism to drive growth in space-based telecoms, strengthen national capabilities, and secure high-value industrial opportunities. It supports UK priorities such as integration of satellite systems with terrestrial networks (including 5G and beyond), enabling resilient connectivity for remote communities, and fostering partnerships that attract inward investment. UK participation in ARTES ensures our industry听remains听at the forefront of emerging markets like LEO constellations, optical communications, and secure connectivity, while contributing to wider European听objectives.听

The UK is a major investor in ARTES听and subscribed听拢141.4m at the most recent ESA Council of Ministers.听

Detailed guidance, assessment听criteria听and eligibility will be released as part of each call for proposals.听All competitions (open and closed) will be found here -听Apply for funding: space-related R&D, innovation and education - 扒哥吃瓜

The ARTES programme is split into further sub-programme lines听by ESA, each with their own focus:听

1. Early鈥憇tage听studies:听Future Preparation听(听

2. Product and service development:听Industrial Competitiveness听(听听

3. Strategic and industrial partnerships:听Partnership Projects (听

4. Strategic Programme Lines: Space for 5G/6G听(,听ScyLight(听and 4S听(.

For all programme lines except Future Preparation, applicants must听demonstrate听national听delegate听support prior to applying to ESA.听This is called 鈥楴ational Delegate support鈥� and the UK delegates its听鈥榙elegate support鈥櫶齠or the听ARTES programme听to the UK Space Agency Satellite Communications team.听

This page explains how UK organisations can engage with ARTES, how to seek UK National Delegate support, and where to find current funding opportunities.

2. ARTES听Funding in the UK听

The UK Space Agency听allocates听its funding through a variety of听ARTES听mechanisms听to ensure it provides the best return on investment for the UK.听These include industry-led calls for proposals and ESA-initiated Invitations听to听Tender;听each approach has their own process.听听听

a. Industry-led calls for proposal听

The UK听allocates听most of听its听funding through industry-led calls for proposals听ensuring transparent access for industry and alignment with UK Space Agency鈥檚 commitment to running open,听fair听and strategically鈥慸riven competitions.听Successful activities may be delivered through听several听ESA听ARTES programme lines听including听Industrial听Competitiveness,听Partnership Projects,听Space for 5G/6G,听ScyLight听and 4S. The decision on which programme line the activity will be delivered through will be made by the UK Space Agency in conjunction with ESA and the applicant.

For all听industry-led听activities, applicants must听demonstrate听national support prior to applying to ESA.听For an activity to be considered by ESA through an industry-led proposal, they must be able to听showcase听that they have support of their national delegate and ESA will reject an application if the support of the national delegate has not been shown with your听initial听application.听听

All industry-led proposals require a compelling element of match-funding as part of their proposal and must be led by a commercial entity (Universities and RTOs are unable to prime an activity).听听

ESA eligibility on match funding states companies can apply for up to 80% funding for programmes,听whereas听in the UK two funding limits are available depending on the size of the company applying:听听

1. For all large or non-SME companies, including companies who are wholly owned by large companies or groups of companies, or for SMEs undertaking very high-value programmes 鈥� up to 50%.听
2. For all other SME companies and activities 鈥� up to 75%.听
3. For Universities, Research Institutes, and Public Sector Entities whose work as subcontractor is requested, justified, and supervised by the Industry consortium, and provided they do not retain any commercial (i.e. financial) interest in the future exploitation of the final product or service, and their funding does not exceed 30% of the total allowable cost - up to 100%.听

For Universities and Research Institutes听pursuant to听the听previous听paragraph, which have a demonstrated commercial interest in the future exploitation of the final product or service - up to 75%.听

However, all matched funding decisions听remain听at the discretion of the UK Space Agency and rates will be applied to individual organisations relative to their individual projects.听听听

For an activity to be considered by the European Space Agency through an industry-led proposal, they must be able to听showcase听that they have support of their听national听delegate.听听

The UK Space Agency runs competitions to听indicate听which activities have provisional听national delegate support听at regular听intervals throughout the year across three听call-types.听

• ARTES General Call -听These are general calls for听developing new satellite communications technologies,听systems听or services across any part of the telecoms value chain. Technology Readiness Levels are expected to be at least 3 at the beginning of a project.听

• ARTES Thematic Call听鈥� These are听focussed听calls for proposals on specific thematic areas.听Previous听examples听include:听Ground Station Innovation, AI for听SatCom听and Aerial Connectivity (Drones and听High-Altitude听Psuedo听Satellites)听Technology Readiness Levels are expected to be at least 3 at the beginning of a project.听

• C-LEO ARTES Call -听These are focussed calls for proposals delivered as part of the Connectivity in Low-Earth Orbit programme. Further information can be found here -听C-LEO Programme - 扒哥吃瓜听Technology Readiness Levels are expected to be at least 4 at the beginning of a project.

Detailed guidance, assessment听criteria听and eligibility will be released as part of each call for proposals.听All competitions (open and closed) will be found here -听Apply for funding: space-related R&D, innovation and education - 扒哥吃瓜

b. ESA-initiated Invitations听to听Tender听

ESA-initiated Invitations听to听Tender are up to 100% funded activities focussed on low听technology readiness levels听development activities听where industry is less likely to take risks on long鈥慼orizon, foundational capabilities.听Proposals may be led by any听eligible organisation (UK听Company,听Academia or Research听and听Technology听Organisation).听

ESA-Initiated Invitations听to听Tender听are activities听proposed听by ESA听through听a yearly work plan听which is released on ESA-STAR. ESA-STAR is ESA鈥檚 procurement听platform.听Further information on the registration process can be found here:听.听

For Advanced Technology, Space for 5G/6G,听ScyLight听and 4S, the UK Space Agency pre-selects听a number of听ITTs which are to be supported by the UK National Delegate听each year. The list of supported activities听and application guidance听can be found here 鈥撎�UK National Delegate support for the 鈥淎dvanced Technology鈥� Call - 扒哥吃瓜听

The UK National Delegate will not support proposals for any activities that are not on the list as a prime contractor or as a subcontractor. An invitation from the European Space Agency to bid for the tender will not be successful without听national delegate support.

You should check the听list of supported activities before beginning any work on a proposal to ensure it is supported by the UK National Delegate.

For Future Preparation,听all activities are听delivered through open competition between all ESA Member States.听No听national听delegate supported is听required听for these听activities and opportunities can be found on ESA-STAR. If you are successful in an application, please do let the UK Space Agency know听via email.听听

c. Contract Change Notice Support听

In some cases, changes in understanding may support adjustment of听an听initial听project, if these would affect the output and scope of the project a Contract Change Notice (CCN) is needed.听These also need to be supported by National Delegates.听CCNs will be subject to the same scrutiny by the National Delegate as the听initial听application.听Guidance on CCNs can be found here 鈥撎�听

d. 听Further Information听

If you would like any further information, or have any questions or feedback about this guidance, please contact the team at听telecoms@ukspaceagency.gov.uk听or听.听

The UK Space Agency runs听a monthly information session which you can book on to find out more about the programmes听the satellite communication team听delivers听听.听听

The UK Space Agency听also runs听monthly industry days where you can request a short in person meeting with听a member of the team. To request a meeting please use this link -听听听

For queries on ARTES opportunities听or听National Delegate support听that is not covered by the guidance above please email:听telecoms@ukspaceagency.gov.uk听听

Please note that during competition windows we are unable to provide feedback on the content of any proposal but will be able to provide responses related to processes.