Services Enabled by High Altitude Pseudo Satellites Complemented by Satellites
Fully funds feasibility studies combining high-altitude platforms with satellite services.
The study is guided by the European Maritime Safety Agency, EU SatCen and Frontex, who supply requirements and guidance; EMSA is focused on maritime safety while Frontex is focused on land-border control and pre-frontier intelligence. Feasibility studies are fully funded by ESA up to a set cap over a nine-month duration, and should propose a roadmap toward service implementation and demonstration.
ESA wants a feasibility study identifying technically and economically sustainable applications that combine High Altitude Pseudo Satellites (stratospheric aircraft) with communication, navigation or remote sensing satellites. Named use cases include telecommunications, emergency and public safety communications, intelligent transport, maritime surveillance, environmental monitoring, and land border control.
Sign up free to see the funding breakdown
Sign up free to see the industries in scope
Sign up free to see the full eligibility
Sign up free to see the timeline
Sign up free to see where teams trip up
Guides for this application
All guides →Government Grants for Startups: What Deeptech Founders Should Know
A practical guide to government grants for startups, including Grants.gov, SBIR/STTR, state programs, eligibility, fit, timelines, and when to apply.
DocumentsLogic Model Template for Grant Proposals
Use this grant logic model template to connect inputs, activities, outputs, outcomes, assumptions, evaluation, and budget logic before writing a proposal.
DocumentsEvaluation Plan for Grant Proposal: Template and Example
Learn how to write an evaluation plan for a grant proposal, including evaluation questions, indicators, data sources, timing, owners, and reporting logic.
More from ESA
All grants from this funder →Environmental Crimes
🇧🇪ESA · Global / Multinational
Zero-equity co-funding for satellite services that detect and trace environmental crime.
ESA BIC — Incubation
🇦🇹ESA · Global / Multinational
Provides equity-free incubation funding and business support for space-related startups across Europe.
BASS Kick-start
🇧🇪ESA · Global / Multinational
Funds feasibility studies for space-enabled applications in agriculture, climate monitoring, and transport innovation.
BASS — Wildfires
🇧🇪ESA · Global / Multinational
Funds space-enabled wildfire monitoring programs improving response, prediction, and ecosystem safety.
Copernicus Masters
ESA · Global / Multinational
Awards over €300,000 in cash prizes to entrepreneurs building Earth-observation data products.
ESA Business Incubation Centres (ESA BICs)
ESA · Global / Multinational
Gives space startups €60,000 in equity-free funding plus ESA technical support.
Similar grants
Browse the directory →Optical wireless communications research and testing facility
🇬🇧EPSRC · United Kingdom
Funding to establish a national optical wireless communications test facility.
EDF Development Actions
🇪🇺EDF · European Union
Funds defence technology validation and prototype demonstration across digital transformation, air defence, and space integration.
NASA SBIR Ignite Phase I
🇺🇸NASA STMD · United States
Funds U.S. small businesses and startups new to NASA in early-stage, high-risk technology development through awards of up to $150,000.
Montana STEP Export Grant
🇺🇸MT Commerce · United States
Funds Montana small businesses exporting deep-tech products internationally through reimbursement of trade shows, compliance testing, IP filings, e-commerce, and market research costs.
One NC SBIR/STTR Phase I Matching Funds
🇺🇸NC BSTI · United States
Funds North Carolina small businesses that have received a federal SBIR or STTR Phase I award with matching grants to bridge the gap to Phase II.
Grand Solutions Grant
🇩🇰Innovationsfonden · Denmark
Funds Denmark-wide flagship consortia tackling difficult science and engineering problems through shared-stage support.