Future PNT Demonstrators: Call for Ideas

Want to help shaping the future of Satellite Navigation? We want to hear YOUR ideas! ESA is issuing this open call for ideas on Future Navigation Demonstrators to transform Positioning, Navigation and Timing (PNT) capabilities on Earth, Moon, Mars and beyond. Anyone is encouraged to submit ideas from research institutes and companies to any entities interested.

This is a permanent open call and ideas can be submitted any time. Consolidation & selection process is conducted periodically. Ideas submitted prior to 30th September 2026 may be considered in the upcoming process.

Director of Navigation - Francisco-Javier Benedicto-Ruiz

Director of Connectivity and Secure Communications - Laurent Jaffart

Goal of this Channel: Gather new ideas for future PNT demonstrator missions

FutureNAV Programme is an ESA initiative with the focus on maturing and demonstrating innovative system concepts and upstream technologies to ensure Europe remains a global leader in resilient PNT solution. The objectives are to:

Advance the European capabilities in the field of Satellite Navigation
Respond to the challenges of Global digital mobility
Secure strategic capabilities for independent European satellite navigation infrastructure and services, through support to the early development of advanced satellite navigation technology which has the potential to support operational missions, both private commercial as well as institutional Programmes defined by the European Union
Support Europe in remaining a leader in the world-wide space-based PNT scene and support Europe international cooperation through standardisation aiming at interoperability of systems for the benefit of users world-wide
Strengthen European Satellite Navigation industrial competitiveness and secure highly qualified employment
Respond to the needs expressed by the scientific / geodetic communities to extend the benefits provided by GNSS-based geodetic techniques in the navigation, scientific and societal domains

FutureNAV comprises of the following components:

Component 1: Celeste (LEO-PNT)
Component 2: Genesis
Component 3: PNT Demonstrators

FutureNAV Component 3 comprises a set of PNT demonstrator missions exploring new system concepts and leveraging PNT technologies and solutions that could have a potential impact on space-based PNT users and services. So far, two PNT demonstrators are under development:

OpSTAR: an In-Orbit Demonstrator (IOD) of optical inter-satellite link capabilities for PNT
NovaMoon: lunar-based local differential, selenodetic/geodetic and timing station, enhancing Moonlight lunar PNT services and support lunar scientific experimentation

It is supported by transversal Phase 0/A/B1 activities to define and prepare future PNT demonstrators through (feasibility) studies and critical pre-developments. Benefits include early engagement with industry on PNT innovation, further maturing (e.g. raising TRLs) of individual building blocks and the development of advanced PNT system concepts that will help building a strong foundation for subsequent demonstrator missions.

Two Phase 0/A/B1 activities have been identified as part of the first approved work plan:

Quantum-Enabled PNT Demonstrator
AI & Payload Digital Technologies PNT Demonstrator

This open call for ideas channel is related to Phases 0/A/B1 of Future PNT Demonstrators under FutureNAV Component 3.

Some examples of ideas already identified include:

PNT Integrity
Multi-layer time synchronisation
Orbital relative navigation
Quantum-secured ranging
Software-defined atomic clocks
Laser ranging
Solar system navigation

ESA invites submissions on these and other disruptive, early‑stage ideas and technologies with advanced end-to-end PNT system concept that can shape the future satellite navigation.

We are seeking ideas to develop and validate complete PNT system concept for new In-Orbit Demonstrator (IOD) missions, guided by the consideration of operational PNT system performance key Figure of Merits, such as but not limited to and in no particular order:

Autonomy
Availability
Integrity
Positioning and timing performance
Resilience to perturbations
Security

Your submitted idea(s) may lead to Future PNT Demonstrators Phase 0/A/B1 activities and follow-on Phase B2/C/D/E IOD with the potential to become a new or contribute to an existing operational systems.

Process and Outcome:

1. Submit an idea on OSIP (this channel):

Ideas submitted via the OSIP form are treated as private / commercial in confidence. The ideas will not be disclosed or circulated outside of ESA and will only be visible to a selected group of ESA experts who will be responsible for assessing the suitability of the ideas received.

Anyone is encouraged to submit ideas from research institutes and companies to any entities interested. While anyone can submit an idea, the submission entity must be registered in an ESA Member State, Associate Member or Cooperating State.

Consolidation & selection process is conducted periodically. Ideas submitted prior to 30th September 2026 may be considered in the upcoming process.

ESA will organise workshops to enable industry and research institutes to get together to work on new ideas & foster new collaborations.

Next workshop is planned at the European Space Deep-Tech Innovation Centre (ESDI) in Switzerland on 9th September 2026. However, you are encouraged to submit idea(s) before attending the workshop. This gives us an indication on the number of ideas and topics to organise an efficient workshop. Ideas can still be fine-tuned after submission.

2. Elaboration & consolidation of ideas:

Ideas will be further elaborated into demonstrator concepts as input to work plans for consolidation with ESA Member States at Programme Board on Satellite Navigation (PB-NAV).

3. Selection

Selected demonstrators may lead to the Invitation to Tender (ITT) for Phase 0/A/B1 studies related to the submitted idea(s), to which industry and research institutes are welcome to submit full proposals.

Special Conditions

The Channel is open for submissions for participants registered in one of ESA Member States, Associate Member States or Cooperating States (link)

For general conditions of participation to this campaign, please refer to the document attached below.

Please note that restrictions exist for certain implementation paths, e.g. ESA procurement actions are restricted to entities eligible for doing business with ESA (see also here).

In addition to the provisions in the General Conditions of Use of the Open Space Innovation Platform (OSIP) (e.g. article VI) and the General Conditions of Participation to Campaigns and Channels organised by ESA in OSIP (e.g. article 4.3) ideas will be excluded, which:

lack sufficient quality or fall outside the scope of Future PNT Demonstrator;
have already been submitted to, and accepted by ESA, e.g., through other OSIP channels or campaigns;
are not submitted in English.

Submitted ideas will be used for information purposes only. This does not bind ESA to any present or future procurement actions, nor does it create any rights for respondents in relation to any present or future ESA procurements, output of evaluation and/or related contract awards.

By submitting an idea to this Channel, participants understand and accept these conditions.

	Name	Added on
	OSIP-General_Conditions_of_Participation_v4.pdf	May 20

Channel Manager - Nityaporn Sirikan, Navigation Analysis & Bus. Intell. Eng

Thank you for your interest in Future PNT Demonstrators and for considering sending us your idea. Our FutureNAV team would be happy to assist you with any questions you may have about the channel and the process. Do not hesitate to contact us at FutureNAV@esa.int

Positioning, Navigation & Timing

Since the beginning of time, human beings have looked to the sky to determine their whereabouts. Traditionally, the Sun and the pattern of fixed stars have been their guides. But in the second millennium, constellations of man-made satellites have taken over as beacons to guide the way.

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Shape the future of PNT - submit your idea

We invite you to share bold, innovative concepts pushing Positioning, Navigation, and Timing technologies forward. Contribute to strengthening European capabilities and unlock new uses of PNT capabilities on Earth, Moon, Mars and beyond.