EU Space ground-segment manufacturing capabilities — Horizon Europe Cluster 4
Technical description
The action aims to strengthen Europe's strategic autonomy in space ground-segment technology by supporting consortia that develop scalable manufacturing capabilities for advanced antenna systems, real-time signal processors and edge computing hardware.
Detailed description
Successful proposals will demonstrate at TRL 6–7 a manufacturing process compatible with serial production of components used in EU space programmes — Copernicus ground stations, Galileo monitoring stations and IRIS² gateways. Proposals must address both technical scaling (yield, automation, supply chain) and the European dimension (consortium composition, distribution of manufacturing capacity across Member States).
Particular attention will be given to: cyber-physical security of manufacturing lines, sovereign sourcing of critical components, energy efficiency in line with the European Green Deal, and pathways to certification under EU space regulation. Cross-cluster synergies with semiconductor and defence programmes (EDF, Chips Act) are encouraged where eligibility permits.