Open call: Does your organisation work in the space industry? Do you want to fly your experiment to space? The European Commission is looking for innovative IOD/IOV experiments!

To ensure European Union’s (EU) non-dependence and competitiveness in space technologies, the EU is proposing an in orbit demonstration / validation (IOD/IOV) service to the European space industry. The European Commission’s Directorate-General for Defence Industry and Space has launched a call for expressions of interest for “In orbit demonstration/validation (IOD/IOV) experiments”. 

Interested parties are invited to submit their applications until 31 May 2022.

The European Space strategy aims to foster a globally competitive and innovative European space sector. In particular, by supporting EU SMEs and start-ups in reaching technological maturation of their space sub-systems, equipment and technologies through in-orbit demonstration and validation activities. Thus, helping them reduce the time to market by reaching successful “flight proven” technology maturation through in orbit demonstrations. These activities are of great importance when it comes to test and de-risking space technology innovations. Although flight opportunities do exist, these are often difficult to access for EU SMEs’ and start-ups at affordable cost and/or in the required timeframe.

For this purpose, a set IOD/IOV activities have been proposed by EC DG Defis & Space open call to all EIC projects willing to fly their experiments in space, as part of the current Horizon Europe programme. IOD/IOV experiments are defined as innovative technologies, products, concepts, architectures, and operations techniques that require in orbit demonstration/validation. The candidate IOD/IOV experiments to be integrated on an EU manufactured launcher solutions are expected to comply with resources and interfaces of:

• Small satellites missions with a range of up to 150kg
• Cubesat missions with a volume of 3U or 6U format 

With the flight model delivery from 2023 to early 2024 and an indicative launch of 2023-2025

Experiments may be accommodated on IOD/IOV Spacecraft(s) or be provided as complete system(s).

Info Webinar

On 11 May 2022, from 9:30 to 12:30, DG DEFIS is organising an informative Webinar on the In-Orbit Demonstration and Validation Call for Expression of Interest. The Webinar will be held on the WebEx online platform.

If you are interested please book your place at this webinar here.

Application details

• Deadline: The Call for Expression of Interest is open until Monday 31 May 2022, 17:00 (UTC).
• Submission: You can find all the details and the needed documentation to submit your expression of interest on this page.
• More information: Any requests for additional information must be made in writing to the Commission using the following e-mail address DEFIS-IOD-IOV@ec.europa.eu.