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    Proof of Concept Studies & Pilot Projects

    ESA Business Applications & Space Solutions (BASS) helps entrepreneurs design, test, and pilot promising business ideas that benefit from space data and technology. Submit your Activity Pitch Questionnaire (APQ) or Outline Proposal here.

    Fausto Vieira

      The standard tendering process consists of the following three stages:

      1. Step 1 — Activity Pitch Questionnaire (APQ)
      2. Step 2 — Outline Proposal (OP)
      3. Step 3 — Full Proposal (FP)

      These steps are mandatory for all activities, except when a Pilot Project originates from a preceding study (Kick Start, Proof of Concept, or Enabling Study) . In this case, the process  described under section "Pilot Project resulting from a Study" applies.

      Step 1: Activity Pitch Questionnaire

      The APQ enables the Tenderer to present a preliminary concept to ESA in a concise and standardised format.  The APQ constitutes the initial step of engagement between the Tenderer and ESA. The APQ allows ESA to quickly take an informed decision on the next steps pointing the Tenderer to the most appropriate activity type (Proof of Concept Study, Pilot Project) and providing support on the further implementation steps. Based on ESA’s recommendation, activities may also be structured in phases that include both Proof of Concept Study and Pilot Project tasks.

      The APQ template can be downloaded from: https://business.esa.int/bass-documents

      Completed forms shall be submitted in accordance with the instructions provided in the template.

      Since authorisation from the National Delegation(s) of the countries in which industrial partners (i.e. Prime and Subcontractors) reside will be required at the level of the Full Proposal, it is strongly suggested that potential Tenderers liaise with the National Delegation(s) as soon as possible in the process. Please, note that the Activity Pitch Questionnaire may be also provided by the Agency to the National Delegations for coordination purposes. Submitting an APQ is deemed giving consent to share this information with the National Delegation. 

      Contact details of the National Delegations can be found under:

      https://business.esa.int/national-delegations

      Step 2: Outline Proposal

      Upon ESA’s positive assessment of the APQ and following ESA’s guidance on the appropriate activity type, the Tenderer will be invited to submit an Outline Proposal (OP) within two months from the ESA initial feedback.

      ESA will evaluate the OP and provide feedback.

      The Outline Proposal templates for Proof of Concept Studies and Pilot Projects can be downloaded from https://business.esa.int/bass-documents.

      Step 3: Full Proposal (via esa-star)

      Upon ESA’s positive assessment of the Outline Proposal, the Tenderer will be invited to prepare a Full Proposal (FP), incorporating ESA’s feedback.

      Only Full Proposals accompanied by a written Authorisation of ESA Funding (AOF) form the National Delegation covering the full scope of the proposal funding will be accepted for evaluation.

      Submission of Full Proposals shall be made exclusively via the esa-star system and shall be done within four months from the ESA acceptance of the Outline Proposal.

      Pilot Project resulting from a Study

      If an activity originates from a Proof of Concept, a Kick-Start or an Enabling Study, ESA may recommend skipping Steps 1 and 2 (APQ and OP) and proceeding directly to Step 3 — Full Proposal that may be implemented as an amendment to the Cooperative Agreement already signed for the preceding Proof of Concept/Kick-Start/enabling activity.

      Subject to ESA’s positive assessment of the outcomes of the study using the “Graduation from Studies to Pilot Projects” criteria (available in https://business.esa.int/bass-documents), and within two (2) months from ESA’s assessment, the Tenderer may submit a Full Proposal to propose an amendment to the existing Cooperative Agreement. A written Authorisation of ESA Funding (AOF) from the National Delegation(s) of the countries where the industrial partners (Prime and Subcontractors) are established remains mandatory.

      This approach can only be used if the Partner has received a positive assessment of the study’s outcomes provided by ESA on the basis of the “Graduation from Studies to Pilot Projects” criteria. As an alternative path, once the activity is successfully concluded, Tenderers may submit an APQ and follow the standard tendering process resulting in a new Cooperative Agreement.

       

      Each Tenderer is permitted to submit a maximum of two (2) APQs per calendar year in reply to this call for proposals. Any submission exceeding this limit shall be deemed inadmissible and automatically rejected, without assessment or further consideration by ESA.

      • Please note that for a given idea, ONLY ONE APQ submission is possible (no subsequent submission of revised APQ Form(s) is allowed!).
      • The APQ has a validity of TWO MONTHS: in case of no draft of Outline Proposal is submitted within two months from the date of the APQ submission, the APQ will be considered by ESA as withdrawn. 
      • Your APQ shall be submitted using the procedure described at https://business.esa.int/apq-submit. Please note that only the PDF form (and not a print of the form in PDF) is accepted.

       The Activity Pitch Questionnaires are evaluated by the ESA Evaluation Board in batch on weekly basis. Three possible outcomes will result from the evaluation:

      • Routed to the second step (preparation of an Outline Proposal)
      • Discuss/Clarify with the submitter
      • Not Acceptable

      You will be contacted by the ESA Evaluation Board within two weeks from the date of the APQ submission, with the outcome of the evaluation, which will include a concise feedback to explain the rationale of the decision.   

      The Activity Pitch Questionnaire will be evaluated using the following criteria:

      1. Relevance of the targeted business opportunities and credibility of the business plan, user/customer involvement
      2. Quality and completeness of the technical proposal including added value of the space asset(s)
      3. Credibility of risks assessment and risk mitigation actions
      4. Completeness of the team in required areas including operational/commercial exploitation of the targeted product/service
      5. Costing (financial value of the prosed activity), pricing (amount of funds requested to ESA), value for money, assessment of financial risk versus company 

      The Outline Proposal will be evaluated using the following criteria:  

      1. Relevance of the targeted business opportunities and credibility of the business plan, user/customer involvement
      2. Quality and completeness of the technical proposal including added value of the space asset(s)
      3. Credibility of risks assessment and risk mitigation actions
      4. Completeness of the team in required areas including operational/commercial exploitation of the targeted product/service
      5. Company experience and competence, completeness of the team in all areas required (i.e. for the proposed programme of work and for the operational/commercial exploitation of the targeted product/service), adequacy of management (incl. high level description of key activities)
      6. Planning and costing, value for money, assessment of financial risk versus company resources, and co-funding capability

      Background Information

      Innovation Area

      Commercialisation and Industrialisation

      Ignite innovation and unlock new markets by strengthening industrial capacity to boost European growth and competitiveness in the booming global space economy.

      Learn More

      What's your idea?

      We look for promising business ideas that are driven by customer demand and benefit from space data and technology.