The Challenge
Today, the world faces a defining challenge: how to manage too much, too little or too polluted water in the face of growing populations, climate change and strained infrastructure . Among these pressures, water sanitation has emerged as one the most urgent global concerns. The impacts of climate change, growing demand and the depletion of natural resources call for a paradigm shift in how water service providers, water management authorities, regions, cities and citizens manage and protect water. Society must develop and increase the adoption of innovative solutions to ensure water sustainability and resilience across all societal functions, while fully safeguarding the environment. Strengthening sanitation systems, preventing pollution and improving wastewater treatment are essential steps, but achieving this requires tools that allow for better monitoring, enforcement and long-term planning.
New solutions are required for:
- preventing and detecting non-revenue losses across the entire supply chain
- improving wastewater treatment performance
- raising awareness
- locating leakages
- repairing sanitation and distribution infrastructure.
The adoption of digital solutions in the water sector is still fragmented, occurring primarily in specific geographical regions. It lacks consistency and is typically constrained by limited financial resources which hinders scalability.
Unlocking private investment for water solutions, initiating the partnerships needed to finance them at scale, connecting supply and demand, creating sustainable business models, and deploying robust technical solutions are all essential steps for generating enduring economic returns and creating lasting impact in the sector.
Topics of relevance
The proposed call has been discussed and prepared with the support of several partners, many of whom are members of the Space for Bioeconomy Task Force. These include Water Europe, Gap Inc, GWOPA and UpLink.
Topics identified in conversation with these partners are:
Water Sustainability, including:
- Water quality monitoring
- Water availability management
- Water Sanitation
- Monitoring of Industrial Discharge
Water Resilience, including:
- Infrastructure monitoring
- High-Non Revenue Water
- Failures in Sewage
- Resilience to drought and flooding
Value of space
Satellite Earth observation (SatEO)
- SatEO data are essential inputs for monitoring (near) real-time water quality indicators (e.g., turbidity, algal blooms, chlorophyll-a) and for forecasting and modelling future scenarios.
- EO data can determine the influence of environmental and anthropogenic variables driving impacts on watersheds and ecosystems.
- Satellite-based images can also be utilised to monitor ground movement, which can impact the risk of pipe failure and this data can be incorporated into strategic modelling and operational workflows of water utilities and contractors.
- EO datasets are also essential for analysing the impact of climate-related events such as flooding and drought.
Satellite Navigation Systems (Satnav)
Satnav can be used for:
- geo-location of local sensors underpinning GIS technologies and feeding into more accurate models of water catchment areas
- IoT combined with remote sensing can be adopted to manage freshwater resources and improve water basin health through informed decision-making
- Satellite imagery can contribute to identifying network anomalies and SatNav facilitate maintenance scheduling and coordination
- GNSS Interferometric Reflectometry (GNSS-IR) is a method that can be used to measure water levels
Satellite Communications (Satcom)
SatCom guarantee asset tracking and efficient responses also in remote areas and during emergencies situation to deliver water management data. SatCom also supports early warning systems for droughts and floods.
What we look for
We are looking for motivated teams who can demonstrate credible business and, technical expertise, with promising ideas for space applications that address relevant topics or related areas and demonstrate:
- credible customer engagement and clearly identified customer needs
- clear market potential leading to commercially viable service concepts
- potential technical feasibility with a pathway to implementable solutions
- clear added value from the use of space data or space-based technologies
What we offer
- zero-equity funding*
- technical and commercial guidance
- access to our network and partners
- ESA brand credibility
*(50-80% depending on SME Status and Member State Approval)
How to apply
Details about how to apply to this call can be found here.
Further information and important documentation and guidance around the application process is available here.
Please note that these pages are updated regularly. In the unlikely case of contradictory information on different platforms, details published on esa-star take precedence.
Authorisation of funding
This opportunity is open to companies that intend to develop space-enabled services and products related, but not restricted, to the topics of relevance outlined above.
To be eligible for funding, your team must be based in one of the following countries: Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom and Canada.
Potential Tenderers are strongly advised to contact the National Delegation(s) of the countries where their industrial partners (Prime and Subcontractors) are located as soon as possible and to apply for a Written Authorisation for ESA funding, as such authorisation is required for the Full Proposal.
Webinar
Join our webinar on 20 May at 11:00 CEST. Registration details are at the top of this page.