horizon europe space technologies: european …...stepp - a project funded by the european union...

STEPP - A project funded by the European Union

Concept Note - June 2018 1

HORIZON EUROPE SPACE

TECHNOLOGIES: EUROPEAN

PARTNERSHIP PLATFORM (STEPP)

CONCEPT NOTE – JUNE 2018

Contents

Overview ............................................................................................................................................................................... 2 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................................................ 2

The future of space research ............................................................................................................................................. 2 Lines of activities and operational objectives ........................................................................................................... 2

The platform approach ................................................................................................................................................... 3 Platform Schematics ............................................................................................................................................................. 4 Overview of main bodies ...................................................................................................................................................... 4 Proposed scope of activities for each Working Group ........................................................................................... 6

Project phasing and calendar ....................................................................................................................................... 8 Project Overview ..................................................................................................................................................................... 8 Project phases schematic .................................................................................................................................................... 9 simplified Deliverables and events calendar ............................................................................................................10

Annex - Draft WG scoping of activities ................................................................................................................... 11



OVERVIEW

• STEPP supports the Commission-led consultation platform for Horizon Europe space technologies

• The Platform will elaborate a Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA) including High

Level SRIA and implementation recommendations

• The SRIA is produced on the basis of an inclusive and structured process designed with a view of

supporting the implementation of the Space Strategy for Europe

• The STEPP project team supports the consultation platform (e.g. planning, methodology, online

tools, databases etc.) and provides expert inputs

INTRODUCTION

THE FUTURE OF SPACE RESEARCH

In line with the Space Strategy the following main strands of space research can be anticipated:

➢ Research in support of the evolution and uptake of the Union Space Programme including for

Copernicus, Galileo, SSA, Govsatcom

➢ Research in support of space technologies and science, addressing sector competitiveness,

non-dependence, supply chain, technology maturation, demonstrators

Additionally, synergies with other research and innovation activities in Horizon Europe, by ESA or

Member States are crucial.

In this context, STEPP supports the Commission-led consultation platform for future research and

innovation needs linked to space technologies in the context of Horizon Europe. It is expected to prepare

expert input to support the elaboration by the Commission of the space technologies activities in Horizon

Europe in the form of a SRIA and associated technical documents.

Specific research and innovation needs in relation to the evolution of the Union Space programme are

not under the scope of STEPP.

LINES OF ACTIVITIES AND OPERATIONAL OBJECTIVES

According to the Space Strategy for Europe, the table below identifies mission statements and

corresponding actions.

Space Strategy objectives

Mission statements Actions

Maximising the benefits of space for society and the EU economy

Encourage the uptake of space services and data

Integration with digital research infrastructures Interoperability of datasets A voluntary labelling and certification scheme Encourage the uptake of space solutions through standardisation measures and roadmaps)

Fostering a globally competitive and innovative European space sector

Maintain and further strengthen Europe’s capacity to conceive, develop, launch, operate and exploit competitive state-of the-art space systems in complete autonomy

Address vulnerabilities of all segments of the European supply chains Support the development of critical space components, Systems and technologies associated with technological non-dependence (e.g. JTL List actions) Support long term R&D needs, including breakthrough disruptive technologies, low cost and alternative access to space, and in-orbit servicing Support the development of new industrial processes and production tools Improve support to technological maturity, including in-orbit demonstration and validation activities, to reduce time to market Promote the use of common technology roadmaps to ensure greater complementarity of R&D projects Promote technology transfer- cross-fertilisation with non-space sectors

Foster entrepreneurship and new business opportunities

Explore new approaches to leverage private sector investments and partnership with industry Facilitate the use of intellectual property rights owned by the EU, including patents and copyrights, to stimulate innovation and economic Support research and innovation in Member States and regions with European Structural Investment Funds Explore synergies with the upcoming Fund of Funds



Space Strategy objectives

Mission statements Actions

Strengthen the use of innovative procurement schemes

Reinforcing Europe’s autonomy in accessing and using space in a secure

and safe environment

Ensure that Europe maintains autonomous, reliable and cost-effective access to space

Support European launch infrastructure facilities where this is needed to meet EU policy objectives Address long-term research and innovation needs, including low-cost access to space for small satellites; advanced manufacturing; breakthrough concepts (such as reusability); mitigating environmental impacts; and providing regular opportunities for European in-orbit validation services for new space technologies and products Encourage the development of commercial markets for low-cost small launch systems or for commercial space activities such as spaceflight or suborbital space tourism

Reinforce synergies between civil and security space activities

Exploit synergies between civilian and defence objectives with aim to reduce costs, increase resilience and improve efficiency

Strengthening Europe’s role as a global actor and promoting international cooperation

Establish a level playing field for European industry

Addressing market access barriers and promoting convergence of dual use export controls

To this end the Commission wishes to set up, with the support of the STEPP project, a structured

consultation tool addressing specifically these actions with a view of providing technical and

programmatic recommendations.

THE PLATFORM APPROACH

The consultation platform is built on the following main principles:

• Full inclusiveness of European stakeholders, including Member States, ESA, industry, SMEs,

research organisations

• Open process providing opportunities for involvement at all steps of the consultations

• Promote the use of common technology roadmaps

• Organisation of the work in parallel thematic working groups under the aegis of a High-level

Board, supported by a Steering Committee (which mirrors the High-level Board but at

operational level)

The consultation platform will be supported by the STEPP project which will allocate resources

for:

• Organisational support of the platform including planning, methodology, online tools,

databases

• Provision of expert advice

• Secretariat support for the preparation of inputs to the SRIA

• Communication and outreach (e.g. workshops, online stakeholder consultation)

The consultation platform will comprise the following bodies:

• A High Level Board

o Supported by a Steering Committee

• Four Working Groups

o in line with the Space Strategy for Europe objectives and actions

• A Stakeholders Consultation Group

o A wide and inclusive mailing list open to registered European stakeholders who will

have the opportunity to contribute to review and comment draft documentation



PLATFORM SCHEMATICS

OVERVIEW OF MAIN BODIES

High-level board

The High-level Board will be composed of about 20 members invited by the Commission, of which high-

level representatives of the European Commission, the European Parliament, the Council rotating

Presidency, National Space Agencies, the European Space Agency (ESA), space industry (including

SMEs), research organisations and academia.

The High-level Board represents the highest level of the consultation platform. It will formally endorse

all the outputs produced at working levels and elaborate the highest-level recommendations for

successful implementation.

It will meet typically once a year. The meeting will be organised by the Commission in coordination with

other institutions and stakeholders.

Steering Committee:

The Steering Committee is the Sherpa of the High-level Board at working level. Its composition

mirrors the High-level Board at operational level.

The Steering Committee identifies/endorses topics to be addressed; aggregates and validates all

outputs produced at Working Group level, organises and monitors the WGs activity.



It validates the composition of the Working Groups, notably the Chair, Co-Chair and Rapporteur1 and

ensures a balanced representation of stakeholders in the Working Groups and in the ensemble of

Chairs, Co-Chairs and Rapporteurs.

It also maintains proper information channels with the High-level Board for which it prepares documents

and decisions to be endorsed.

It will meet as appropriate, up to 4 to 6 times a year.

Working Groups:

Four groups (WG) are proposed, two having a more political/programmatic focus, and two having a

more technology/innovation focus.

• Strengthen opportunities (governance and funding)

• Reinforce access to space (Launcher systems and services)

• Foster competitiveness (End-to-end space systems (Space and Ground Segments), Generic

technologies tools and processes)

• Promote synergies (dual-use, technology transfer, common roadmaps, consistency with

European space technology harmonisation)

Working Groups directly report on their progress to the Steering Committee.

The WG membership is opened to all types of stakeholders and can evolve as needed.

WGs shall have the role to investigate and elaborate specific sections of the SRIA. In order to take stock

from, and avoid duplications with, existing initiatives at European level, they shall build on existing

material on the specific technology domains they address, such as European Space Technology

Harmonisation Technical Dossiers and Roadmaps, ESCC roadmaps, EC-ESA-EDA Joint Task Force

on Space Critical Technologies documentation.

The STEPP project team will support the overall WG activity including where applicable, providing expert

inputs and consultation means.

Working Group meetings

Working Group meetings are bundled together in the context of two-day working sessions to ensure

that they can share common issues and promote integration, consolidation and cross fertilisation of

views. Splinter and plenary meetings will be organised in a single location to promote and organise

cross platform interactions.

4 Working Group Meeting sessions shall be held between June/July 2018 and November 2019.

Stakeholders consultation group

To ensure the largest consultation base and promote information at all steps of the process, all draft

items produced by the working groups are regularly disseminated for comments electronically by a large

consultation group.

1 The Rapporteurs will ensure appropriate liaison between working groups to promote cross-platform activities in areas where

synergies are expected between two or more WGs.



This will be a database of registered experts who will be invited to contribute their views and feed the

Platform with expertise.

• The database will be established as soon as the platform is launched

• A call for participation will be launched on the following channels already available within STEPP to

ensure the widest dissemination to the targeted European stakeholders:

o Registered contacts: Initial Stakeholder Consultation Group >500 contacts

o Leverage mailing lists and partners

▪ Representative associations of the sectors (Eurospace, SME4space, ESRE,

EARTO, Pegasus, EASN)

▪ Aerospace Clusters

▪ COM network of institutional contacts (PermReps, SPEG)

This ensures that the consultation process is fully open, inclusive and transparent.

Two consultation rounds will be organised between June/July 2018 and November 2019 (see project

overview below)

Overall it is estimated that the Platform approach will be able to involve a community composed of about

100 experts (that will provide direct/active contributions to Platform) and a consultation base of >2000

other stakeholders available for online and offline consultations, participation in events.

PROPOSED SCOPE OF ACTIVITIES FOR EACH WORKING GROUP

The table identifies in column headers the Working Group structure proposed. The WG structure is

applied to the specific actions of the Space Strategy with a view to their implementation in the

programmatic context of Horizon Europe for Space Technologies.



SPACE STRATEGY Working Group

Space Strategy

objectives

Mission statements

Specific Actions Strengthen

Opportunities Foster

Competitiveness

Reinforce Access

To Space

Promote Synergies

Fostering a globally

competitive and innovative European space

sector

Maintain and further strengthen

Europe's capacity to conceive, develop,

launch, operate and exploit competitive

state-of-the-art space system in

complete autonomy

Address vulnerabilities of all segments of the European supply chain

LEAD

Support the development of critical space components associated with technological non-dependence (JTF List of Action)

cross-link LEAD

Support long term R&D needs, including breakthrough disruptive technologies, low cost and alternative access to space, and in-orbit servicing

CO-LEAD CO-LEAD

Support the development of new industrial processes and production tool

LEAD cross-link

Improve to technological maturity, including in-orbit demonstration and validation activities, to reduce time to market

LEAD

Promote the use of common technology roadmaps to ensure greater complementarity of R&D projects

cross-link cross-link cross-link LEAD

Reduced costs of developing (and launching) satellites

LEAD Cross-

link

Foster entrepreneurship and new business

opportunities

Explore new approaches to leverage private sector investments and partnership with industry

LEAD

Facilitate the use of intellectual property rights owned by the EU, including patents and copyrights, to stimulate innovation and economic growth

LEAD

Support research and innovation in Member States and regions with European Structural Investments Funds

LEAD

Use of European Structural Investment Funds LEAD

Explore synergies with the upcoming Fund of Funds

LEAD

Strengthen the use of innovative procurement schemes

LEAD

Strenghtening Europe's role as

a global actor and promoting international cooperation

Establish a level playing field for

European industry

Addressing market access barriers and promoting convergence of dual use export

cross-link cross-link cross-link LEAD

Reinforcing Europe's

autonomy in accessing and

using space in a secure and safe

environment

Ensures that Europe maintains

autonomous, reliable and cost-effective access to

space

Reduced costs of (developing and) launching satellites

LEAD

Support European launch infrastructure facilities where this is needed to meet EU policy objectives - Modernization of launch infrastructure facilities

LEAD

Address long-term research and innovation needs, including low-cost access to space for small satellites; advanced manufacturing; breakthrough concepts (such as reusability); mitigating environmental impacts; and providing regular opportunities for European in-orbit validation services for new space technologies and products

LEAD

Encourage the development of commercial markets for low-cost small launch systems or for commercial space activities such as spaceflight or suborbital space tourism

LEAD

Reinforce synergies between civil and

security space activities

Promote technology transfer, cross-fertilization with non-space sectors

LEAD

Exploit synergies between civilian and defence objectives with aim to reduce costs, increase resilience and improve efficiency

LEAD

Maximising the benefits of space for

society and the EU economy

Encourage the uptake of space

data

Data chain aspects, end-to-end data system approaches etc. to support from a technical and RDT perspective the uptake of space data.

LEAD cross-link cross-link cross-link



PROJECT PHASING AND CALENDAR

PROJECT OVERVIEW

The Platform implements a process over 18 months in 5 Phases.

Phase 1: Kick-Off (July 2018)

o Key events:

▪ Creation and first Steering Committee meeting (early July 2018)

▪ Creation and first Working Groups meeting (early July 2018)

o Key outputs: SRIA Outlines available for STEPP inputs

o Comment/description: The platform is formally set-up (Steering Committee endorsing

the Working Groups, internal organisation of the WGs) and the work process is formally

launched with the WGs defining the SRIA outlines to be addressed within the STEPP

internal process

Phase 2: Scoping (July 2018- end November 2018)

o Key events:

▪ STEPP inputs (July-October 2018)

▪ 2nd Working Group meeting (November 2018)

▪ Consultation Kick-off workshop (end November 2018)

o Key outputs: DRAFT Full SRIA (DRAFT A) and DRAFT High-level SRIA

o Comment/description: At the end of November, the Consultation Kick-off Workshop

is organised as the closure of the Working Groups Meetings. It aims at publicly taking

stock of the work produced at WG level (DRAFT A) and at formally launching the first

Public review phase of the project to ensure that consultation process is fully open,

fully inclusive and fully transparent. On the other side, a DRAFT High-level SRIA

which will be used as recommendation guidelines for the full SRIA is available.

Phase 3: Consolidation (end November 2018- May 2019)

o Key events:

▪ Sector consultation (end November 2018- mid-February 2019)

▪ STEPP inputs (mid-February-May 2019)

▪ 3rd Working Group Meeting (May 2019)

o Key outputs: DRAFT Full SRIA (DRAFT B)

o Comment/description: The sector consultation has been launched and the various

comments have been taken into account in the updated version of the DRAFT Full SRIA

which is in its version B at the end of the 3rd Working Group meeting.

Phase 4: Building Consensus (end May 2019- mid-November 2019)

o Key events:

▪ Fine tuning and consensus building sector consultation (end May 2019- mid-

September 2019)

▪ 4th Working Group meeting (mid-November 2019)

o Key outputs: DRAFT Full SRIA (DRAFT C) and a DRAFT set of recommendations on

SRIA priorities and implementation schemes for Horizon Europe Space technologies

o Comment/description: This phase aims at consolidating and fine-tuning the DRAFT

Full SRIA in its version C trough a second sector consultation and a last WG meeting.

Moreover, a DRAFT set of recommendations on SRIA priorities and implementation



schemes for Horizon Europe Space technologies is available. These documents will

need further approval at higher level to be implemented in Horizon Europe.

Phase 5: High-level approval (end November 2019-February 2020)

o Key events

▪ Steering Committee Meeting and high-level endorsement (end November

2019)

▪ Large scale public information event (February 2020)

o Key outputs: FINAL Full SRIA; FINAL High-level SRIA; high level recommendations

for Horizon Europe Space Technologies; STEPP Team high-level Summary

o Comment/description:

▪ This phase takes stock of the work performed and endorses the key outcomes

(High level SRIA and full SRIA)

▪ It also formally maps the way ahead and makes high level recommendations

for Horizon Europe Space Technologies

▪ It eventually makes recommendations on the future of the STEPP process, with

regard to the implementation of the SRIA, with regard to the further updates of

the SRIA and the monitoring of activities in the context of Horizon Europe

▪ The STEPP Team ensures that the full SRIA follows the high-level guidelines

and priorities for Horizon Europe highlighted in the high-level SRIA by drafting

a document making visible that all priorities have been addressed properly by

the full SRIA (STEPP Team high-level Summary)

▪ At the very end of the process an outreach event is organised to present the

full SRIA and the associated recommendations for implementation

PROJECT PHASES SCHEMATIC



SIMPLIFIED DELIVERABLES AND EVENTS CALENDAR

Deliverables:

DELIVERABLE DELIVERY DATE

High-level SRIA November 2018

FULL SRIA including implementation recommendations

End of process

Note that the SRIA will investigate, through the WGs, among other themes, the two themes proposed in

the EP Pilot Project (de-orbiting technologies and innovative materials).

Public Events:

Events EVENT DATE

High-level SRIA Event November/December 2018

Final Outreach Event End of the project

Both of these workshops will take place in Brussels. It is expected (as with the workshops proposed in

the original STEPP proposal) that room facilities are made available by the EC.



ANNEX - DRAFT WG SCOPING OF ACTIVITIES

Here are provided the draft scoping of activities to be addressed by each WG, as in addressing the

different elements of the Space Strategy.

WG “Foster Competitiveness”

The WG “Foster Competitiveness” corresponds mainly to the Space Strategy mission statement:

“Maintain and further strengthen Europe’s capacity to conceive, develop, launch, operate and exploit

competitive state-of-the-art space system in complete autonomy”. It is the leading Working Group for

this mission and the Space Strategy Specific Actions:

• Address vulnerabilities of all segments of the European supply chain

• Support the development of critical space components associated with technological non-

dependence

• Support long term R&D needs, including breakthrough disruptive technologies, low cost and

alternative access to space, and in-orbit servicing

• Support the development of new industrial processes and production tool

• Improve to technological maturity, including in-orbit demonstration and validation activities, to

reduce time to market

• Reduced costs of developing (and launching) satellites

This Working Group ensures cross-linked activities such as:

• Addressing market access barriers and promoting convergence of dual use export with WG

“Strengthen Opportunities” and WG “Reinforce Access to Space” under the lead of the WG

“Promote Synergies”

• Data chain aspects, end-to-end data system approaches etc. to support from a technical and

RDT perspective the uptake of space data with WG “Reinforce Access to Space” under the

co-lead of the WG “Promote Synergies” and the WG “Strengthen Opportunities”

• Promote the use of common technology roadmaps to ensure greater complementarity of R&D

projects with WG “Strengthen Opportunities” and WG “Reinforce Access to Space” under the

lead of the WG “Promote Synergies”

WG “Strengthen Opportunities”

The WG “Strengthen Opportunities” corresponds mainly to the Space Strategy mission statement:

“Foster entrepreneurship and new business opportunities”. It is the leading Working Group for this

mission and the Space Strategy Specific Actions:

• Explore new approaches to leverage private sector investments and partnership with industry

• Facilitate the use of intellectual property rights owned by the EU, including patents and

copyrights, to stimulate innovation and economic growth

• Support research and innovation in Member States and regions with European Structural

Investments Funds

• Use of European Structural Investment Funds

• Explore synergies with the upcoming Fund of Funds

• Strengthen the use of innovative procurement schemes


RDT perspective the uptake of space data





“Foster Competitiveness” and WG “Reinforce Access to Space” under the lead of the WG



projects with WG “Foster Competitiveness” and WG “Reinforce Access to Space” under the

lead of the WG “Promote Synergies”

WG “Reinforce Access to Space”

The WG “Reinforce Access to Space” corresponds mainly to the Space Strategy mission statement:

“Ensures that Europe maintains autonomous, reliable and cost-effective access to space”. It is the

leading Working Group for this mission and the Space Strategy Specific Actions:

• Reduced costs of (developing and) launching satellites

• Support European launch infrastructure facilities where this is needed to meet EU policy

objectives - Modernization of launch infrastructure facilities

• Address long-term research and innovation needs, including low-cost access to space for

small satellites; advanced manufacturing; breakthrough concepts (such as reusability);

mitigating environmental impacts; and providing regular opportunities for European in-orbit

validation services for new space technologies and products

• Support long term R&D needs, including breakthrough disruptive technologies, low cost and

alternative access to space, and in-orbit servicing

• Encourage the development of commercial markets for low-cost small launch systems or for

commercial space activities such as spaceflight or suborbital space tourism



“Strengthen Opportunities” and WG “Foster Competitiveness” under the lead of the WG



RDT perspective the uptake of space data with WG “Foster Competitiveness” under the co-

lead of the WG “Promote Synergies” and the WG “Strengthen Opportunities”.


projects with WG “Strengthen Opportunities” and WG “Foster Competitiveness” under the lead

of the WG “Promote Synergies”

• Support the development of new industrial processes and production tool under the lead of

the WG “Foster Competitiveness”

• Reduced costs of developing (and launching) satellites under the lead of the WG “Foster

Competitiveness”

WG “Promote Synergies”

The WG “Promote Synergies” corresponds mainly to the Space Strategy mission statement:

“Reinforce synergies between civil and security space activities” and “Establish a level playing field for

European industry”. It is the leading Working Group for these missions and the Space Strategy

Specific Actions:

• Support the development of critical space components associated with technological non-

dependence, including vulnerabilities of relevant segments of the European supply chain

• Addressing market access barriers and promoting convergence of dual use export



• Promote technology transfer, cross-fertilization with non-space sectors

• Exploit synergies between civilian and defence objectivities with aim to reduce costs, increase

resilience and improve efficiency



RDT perspective the uptake of space data with WG “Foster Competitiveness” and "Reinforce

Access to Space" under the lead of the WG “Strengthen Opportunities”

horizon europe space technologies: european …...stepp - a project funded by the european union...

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