Sub-theme 1: Air, Land and Sea Transport Infrastructure

Opening and closing date: 30 June 2023 - 28 September 2023

Air, Land and Sea Transport Infrastructure

This infrastructure includes ports, harbours, airports and roads, the pipeline networks, depots and facilities associated with these networks and the public and private transport services that operate on them. The physical components of transport infrastructure also include bridges, tunnels, pavements, wharfs and pipes. 

This sub-theme includes a large variety of applications that leverage improved transport infrastructure. For air transport, for example, applications can support the airports in a range of ways including: 

  • Becoming carbon neutral 
  • Obtaining 'green-certified' terminals 
  • Reducing on-airport vehicle emissions by switching to vehicles with alternative fuels and low-emission technology 

For road transport, for example, in addition to the monitoring and maintenance of critical infrastructure, applications may be developed to enhance the connectivity across countries by improving international corridors as set out in the EU Global Gateway strategy1

  • Replanning alternative routes during a disaster/crisis  
  • Recovery from failure of critical connection  
  • Innovating the road safety inspection procedures by gathering information about the area using space data 

For maritime transport, for example, there are applications reinforcing maritime navigation through the upgrading of basic port infrastructure  

  • The installation of on-shore power supply  
  • Improving inland waterway transport, including cross-border waterway connections, which will help create a cross-border inland waterway connection between countries. 

What we are looking for 

We look for teams that have identified an attractive market opportunity with real potential to engage customers. Motivation, business experience and domain expertise are all important features. We want to hear about your ideas that involve the utilisation of either space technology or space data. 

In particular we are looking for those opportunities which are going to become market disruptors to either the air, land or sea (or combination of any/all) transport infrastructure markets and which have a high level of innovation. 

How to Apply 

  1. Register your team on esa star Registration (https://esastar-emr.sso.esa.int) today! If your team is made up of more than one company or organisation, each entity will need to register. 
  2. Scroll down to the ‘Downloads’ section of this webpage to download all the official documents. Official documents include a document explaining the scope of this opportunity and the past two webinars hosted by ESA. 
  3. Download the Activity Pitch Questionnaire template and submit your pitch as instructed in the Activity Pitch Questionnaire guidelines, through the form online.​ 
  4. ESA will evaluate your pitch. Teams whose pitches are positively evaluated will be invited to prepare an Outline Proposal and then a Full Proposal. Teams must obtain a Letter of Authorisation from their respective National Delegation before submitting a Full Proposal. Contact details of all National Delegates can be found here: National Delegation(s).