The European Space Agency ESA has launched a thematic call called “Space for Smart and Uncrewed Shipping”. European actors are invited to apply for support for the development of services and technology related to maritime applications.
Projects that either use or contribute to improving relevant space infrastructure, such as satellite communications, 5G or PNT (Position / Navigation / Time), may receive financial support.
Space technology provides gains in the maritime sector
Norway’s sea areas are six times larger than our land areas. The maritime industry currently accounts for 3% of value creation in the mainland Norwegian economy. Satellite-based services are used throughout in fishing, offshore and maritime transport, and in communication, mapping and weather forecasting.
Modern technology and satellite monitoring provide the opportunity to obtain data from large areas. Satellites can contribute to the sustainable use of and monitoring of sea areas, maritime rescue and accident prevention. Satellites are also useful in the fight against illegal fishing and environmental crime.
The Norwegian maritime sector has always been early in adopting space technology. Further development in the use of space technology will both provide benefits for the maritime industry and be useful in public sector tasks related to ocean space.
Who can receive support?
The focus of the call is the development of services and technology for applications including, but not limited to
- Secure operation / remote control of autonomous vessels
- Digitization at sea and on land / in ports
- Predictive maintenance and support for operations at sea
- Reduction of emissions and environmental impact
- Maritime safety
- Efficient intermodal transport (ie where two or more modes of transport are included)
- Monitoring of endangered coastal areas
- Maritime surveillance and detection of illegal activity at sea
Actors can apply for support for demonstration projects that are related to maritime services and based on the use of space infrastructure such as satellite communication, 5G or PNT (Position / Navigation / Time).
It is also possible to support necessary technology / product development related to these services. Small and medium-sized players can receive more support than large players.
Such a search is one
There are two application deadlines, 15 June and 15 September 2021. Actors who want to apply for support must submit an Outline Proposal (based on a template from ESA) electronically to ESA within one of the two deadlines. These deadlines have been set up so that applications can be evaluated at two different times.