NOTE: CLOSING DATE HAS BEEN EXTENDED TO 31.09.2026
Join the Platforms for Research at European Space Deep-Tech Innovation Center (ESA ESDI) – A Unique Opportunity for Researchers who want to gain experience in running or researching within coordinated research programmes.
Goals
This call will cosponsor post-doctoral research, from Universities, Research Institutes or Industry, that brings new knowledge, fresh perspectives and critical thinking to support a new type of research programme delivered through European Space Deep-tech Innovation’s Platforms for Research (ESDI).
Through their work with ESDI and its Platforms for Research, the selected candidates will help build a European network of deep-tech experts, infrastructures and emerging capabilities and in turn, their host organisations will expand their deep-tech network.
Post-doctoral researchers will gain experience in contributing to and researching within coordinated research programmes. These acquired skills will prepare them to coordinate and oversee high-risk, high-reward projects and to carry the values of the Platforms for Research into their future careers, shaping Europe’s deep-tech landscape in the years ahead. In parallel, host organisation will get a chance to strengthen their familiarity with the managerial practices underpinning coordinated research programmes.
Together, these outcomes will reinforce both individual and institutional capabilities for the design, coordination and oversight of ambitious research activities, supporting the longer‑term development of Europe’s deep‑tech research ecosystem.
Background
1.ESDI
The European Space Deep-Tech Innovation Centre (ESDI) is a Centre of Excellence initiated by the European Space Agency (ESA) and Switzerland. It is implemented under leadership of ESA in collaboration with the Paul Scherrer Institute. Its aim is to accelerate the commercial adoption and availability of deep-tech for the benefit of ESA, its Member States, and the broader European space sector.
Building on the experience and capabilities developed through ESA Phi‑Lab Switzerland, ESDI designs, establishes and operates Platforms for Research to support the maturation of breakthrough technologies relevant to ESA programmes. These Platforms provide a structured framework[1] for coordinated, time‑limited research addressing ambitious technical challenges with clear relevance to industrial and programme needs, drawing on expertise from the Swiss and broader European ecosystem.
ESDI also develops intelligence capabilities to improve ESA’s awareness of critical technologies, supply chains and enabling infrastructures relevant to future space systems. This supports ESA programmes in identifying emerging opportunities, technological dependencies and areas where targeted research and development can strengthen Europe’s future industrial and commercial position, both for space applications and, where appropriate, across adjacent sectors.
And finally, ESDI supports the development of a European deep‑tech community for space, by fostering structured links between researchers, industry and ESA stakeholders. This includes the identification and mapping of key expertise, facilities and laboratories, with the objective of improving access to capabilities of relevance to ESA and its Member States.
2. What are the Platforms for Research and how do they operate?
As the programmatic anchor of ESDI, the Platforms for Research frame, orchestrate, and run coordinated research programmes which target “Goldilocks[2]” problems: focused technology challenges that are neither too broad nor too narrow, enabling novelty while remaining anchored in credible use. These challenges are pursued through actively managed cohorts of projects, with progress assessed against predefined milestones and decision points that operationalise the principles of novelty, use‑inspired research, teaming, and systems‑level thinking. Evidence generated at these points informs explicit decisions to continue, pivot, or terminate activities.
Each Platform for Research is led by a dedicated Platform Manager who coordinates the cohort of industrial activities and a research pool.
Accordingly, the Platform will operate not merely as a funding mechanism, but as an active enabler of innovation. Its role is to:
- Facilitate cross‑disciplinary integration by involving researchers from adjacent fields, including through co‑sponsored research activities.
- Enable collaboration between communities and actors that would not otherwise engage.
- Promote the emergence of novel insights and innovations by steering consortia around a coherent and well‑defined technical theme.
- Position itself within the wider ecosystem in order to accelerate impact, uptake, and dissemination of results.
3. Scope
ESDI is now building a pool of researchers to be co-located with ESDI’s Platforms for Research. They will:
a. Pursue research embedded in ESDI’s platforms for research:
Researchers pursue their own post‑doctoral projects co‑located within ESDI’s Platforms for Research, ensuring academic independence while contributing to platform challenges.
For sending research organisations, the scheme offers both prestige and strategic positioning. Hosting a post‑doctoral researcher embedded at ESA signals direct engagement, while providing structured exposure to ESA’s strategic research agenda. Through direct interaction with ESA teams, and participation in dedicated events and workshops, institutions gain early insight into emerging technical directions and opportunities to inform future programme thinking, including from adjacent fields[3] that challenge established assumptions in the space sector.
b. Contribute to the development of a deep-tech network of experts
Beyond their research, the pool of researchers will support ESDI in developing the ESA deep-tech expert network, engaging with academia and industry, and identifying relevant critical capabilities and infrastructure in all ESA Member States.
In turn, the research organisations sending the post-doc will benefit from strengthened visibility within the European space and deep‑tech ecosystem, privileged access to a curated expert network, and enhanced opportunities for follow‑on collaborations, consortia formation, and future programme participation at ESA and national levels.
c. Contribute to the shaping of the research programme:
Additionally, the pool of researchers will inform the Platform Managers at ESDI working on the preparation of the research programmes through intelligence capability mapping, roadshows, industry and research/university group visits, support the orchestration of a community through organisation of workshops and events. In doing so, they will at the same time learn the skills they will need in their future careers to lead coordinated research, and build a network at the same time, both of which will benefit their research organisation.
Research topics:
Platform for Research Phi-Lab 1: Space x Quantum
Challenge: What if every satellite could carry a quantum sensor the size of a shoebox?
Platform for Research Phi-Lab 1: Space x Materials
Challenge: What if spacecraft structures could adapt, shield, and self-heal in orbit, enabled through advanced manufacturing?
Platform for Research Phi-Lab 1: Space x Data
Platform for Research for FutureNav Programme
Topic 1: Quantum-Enhanced Navigation for GNSS-Denied and Deep-Space Environments
Objective: Enable autonomous, GNSS-independent navigation capabilities
- Development of hybrid quantum/classical navigation algorithms combining quantum inertial sensors with vision, star tracking and altimetry
- Modelling and mitigation of noise, drift and environmental sensitivities in quantum sensors under realistic space conditions
- Investigation of SWaP reduction strategies for space-compatible quantum sensing technologies
- End-to-end simulation of quantum-assisted navigation performance in LEO, cislunar and deep-space scenarios
Topic 2: AI-Augmented PNT and Onboard Autonomous Decision-Making
Objective: Increase resilience, robustness and autonomy of PNT systems
- Development of AI/ML-based sensor fusion frameworks for multi-sensor PNT (GNSS, inertial, vision, quantum)
- Research on robustness, explainability and certification aspects of AI in safety-critical navigation systems
- Design of adaptive estimation and anomaly detection techniques combining model-based and learning-based approaches
- Investigation of onboard AI deployment constraints (latency, power, radiation, real-time operation)
Specifics:
Nature of this call
This call differs from conventional co‑sponsored research schemes. While scientific excellence and the quality of the proposed research remain essential selection criteria, this call places equal emphasis on the profile, capabilities, and engagement potential of the individual researcher.
The objective is not only to fund high‑quality research, but to embed selected researchers within ESDI Platforms for Research, where they will actively contribute to platform‑level objectives, and community development. For this reason, proposals are required to include the curriculum vitae of the nominated researcher(s), enabling the assessment of both scientific credentials and profile‑related qualities relevant to the platform mission.
Expected role of embedded researchers
Researchers supported under this call are expected not only to develop depth within their own discipline, but also to engage beyond it. They are expected to:
- Connect projects and research activities across consortia;
- Link communities that would otherwise remain fragmented;
- Contribute to collaborative and integrative thinking across platform activities.
Through this embedded role, researchers will strengthen the knowledge base at ESDI and contribute to broadening ongoing research by introducing perspectives drawn from adjacent domains. In addition to conducting their own research, they are expected to actively contribute to knowledge exchange, challenge assumptions where appropriate, and support cooperation and alignment across projects.
Profiles sought under this call
This call seeks researchers with profiles aligned with the following characteristics:
- Innovation‑oriented: Capable of translating novel ideas into concepts with potential for practical application.
- Cross‑disciplinary: Comfortable working across scientific and technical domains and translating concepts between communities.
- Collaborative: Willing and able to contribute to collective objectives and shared research agendas, beyond individual research interests.
- Critical and constructive: Able to question approaches and challenge assumptions in a reasoned and productive manner.
- Synergy‑driven: Capable of identifying complementarities between projects, methods, or disciplines.
- Knowledge‑sharing: Actively engaged in peer exchange, informal learning, and open technical dialogue.
Program Structure
Link with Swiss partners:
Proposals from universities, research institutes and industry of all ESA Members are welcome. However, when the proposal does not originate from a Swiss organisation, they will demonstrate that their research group has strong interest in reinforcing links with Swiss research institutes, Research and Technology Organisations or industry to benefit from the Swiss deep-tech ecosystem. ESDI may facilitate access to federal infrastructure and laboratories with a financial contribution towards such access, having in mind that such a set-up would contribute to developing a network of experts throughout ESA Member States territory.
Outcomes (Final report)
The co‑sponsored research activities are expected to deliver the following outcomes:
- Documented research results, including technical reports and (peer‑reviewed) publications, contributing to the scientific and technical knowledge base relevant to the relevant Platform for Research.
- Structured analysis and mapping of supply‑chain aspects and other technology intelligence relevant to the relevant Platform for Research.
- Contributions to ESDI’s Network Database, including identification (and characterisation) of critical infrastructures, laboratories, facilities and key expertise.
- Active participation in, and support to, the Platform for Research activities, including workshops, reviews, exchanges and coordinated research actions.
Location:
Attention is drawn to the fact that the pool of researchers will be based predominantly at ESDI, located at Park Innovaare in the vicinity of the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI).
In cases when the home institution is not located in Switzerland, applicants are expected to describe in their proposal how the interaction with, and continued engagement of, the home institution will be organised and optimised. This should include arrangements ensuring effective supervision, knowledge exchange, and sustained institutional involvement throughout the duration of the research activity, despite the researcher’s primary physical presence at ESDI.
Duration:
The duration of the research will be 2-3 years.
Budget
Follow the rules for OSIP Co-Sponsored research.
Special rules/Deviation for Co-Sponsored research at ESDI:
Out-of-pocket expenses:
Additionally up to 20k for out-of-pocket expenses may be allocated by ESDI directly to the non-Swiss researcher(s) when the researcher spends at least 2 years at ESDI.
Facilitated access to federal research infrastructures:
Financial contribution from ESDI to be discussed between applicant and ESDI during iteration phase of the proposal. Therefore, in first stage of application, ideas need to be indicated for ESDI to assess viability and possible support.
Process:
a. Idea submission and evaluation in this OSIP Campaign
The first phase begins with submitting your idea through this campaign. Before submission, you can save your ideas as drafts if any mandatory information is missing. Draft ideas are only visible to you – idea coaches and ESA experts can’t see them. Authors are encouraged to submit their ideas as soon as the mandatory information is available and keep the box “still working on the idea” ticked, indicating to ESA that you are interested to receive suggestions and comments. Note that a ‘submitted’ idea is not expected to be finalised.
Once submitted, your idea will progress through several stages: from “qualification” to “community discussion,” then “evaluation“, and finally “selection” (or “archival“). You have full visibility of your idea’s status at all times (visible above the title of ideas) and can edit and improve your idea as needed. To indicate satisfaction with its quality and no further planned modifications, tick the box “ready for evaluation.” (Until your idea enters into evaluation, you can still edit and improve it, including changing the marking to “still working on the idea”)
Upon submission, you must select an idea category. Based on this choice, an idea coach will be assigned to perform initial eligibility checks and involve relevant ESA experts. Choosing the wrong category may cause delays in qualification and limit interactions with ESA experts.
Eligible ideas are qualified and move to the Community Discussion phase, signaling that the idea is likely to be evaluated soon and encouraging ESA experts to provide comments to help improve the idea’s chances of passing evaluation. Ideas marked as publicly visible at this stage allow also feedback from others besides ESA. The interaction process can vary in duration due to the nature of proposed activities. We recommend authors whose ideas have never been discussed with ESA prior to submission to wait at least 2 to 4 weeks (to have the opportunity to receive feedback) before ticking the “ready for evaluation” box in their submission form.
The idea phase culminates with the idea evaluation. An evaluation session is nominally started every third Friday of the month. This session includes ideas that are in community discussion and marked “ready for evaluation” by their authors. Once under evaluation, an idea can no longer be edited. The evaluation itself will last for about 2-3 weeks, after which, authors will receive an automatic notification about the outcome from OSIP:
- If the idea is “archived”, it means your idea has not met the minimum evaluation threshold and, consequently, will not be invited to submit a full proposal.
- If the idea is “selected”, authors will be invited to submit a full proposal in a dedicated proposal channel on OSIP. Selected ideas might also see their implementation scheme re-adjusted based on the recommendations of the evaluation board.
Authors should note that ideas that fail the evaluation cannot be re-submitted. Authors are therefore encouraged to actively seek feedback and improve their ideas before marking them as “ready for evaluation.”
b. Full proposal submission and technical evaluation in the dedicated Channel on OSIP (Co-Sponsored Research Channel)
Authors of ideas which pass the evaluation are invited to mature their idea into a proposal, for which they are given a standardised online proposal template in a dedicated Channel on OSIP. Authors will be able to edit the newly created proposal form (similar to the idea form) in the dedicated Channel – the link to the proposal form will be provided upon idea selection.
The proposals will be subject to a competitive evaluation. Up to 5 proposals evaluated according to the criteria set out in the Co-sponsored Research channel will be selected. Selected activities are implemented via cooperative agreements.
For more details authors can consult the rules of the dedicated proposal channels:
c. Acceptance letter on esastar of selected proposal and signature of cooperative agreement – no evaluation at this stage needed.
[1] Boone Bonvillian, William, Richard Van Atta, and Patrick Windham, eds. 2019. The DARPA Model for Transformative Technologies: Perspectives on the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. Open Book Publishers. https://doi.org/10.11647/OBP.0184.
[2] Goldilocks refers to the Fable, when in search of the scope which is just right. Calls for proposals target tightly scoped research challenges that balance ambition with feasibility. The challenges are defined with sufficient focus to deliver concrete, assessable outcomes, while allowing enough flexibility to enable technical novelty and the exploration of alternative approaches relevant to programme needs.
[3] The applicants will be asked in this proposal to argue why the proposal is of relevance for the challenge, especially when in adjacent fields of research.Special Conditions
This Campaign is open for submissions by participants registered in one of ESA’s Member States, Associate Member States or Cooperating States (link).
For general conditions of participation in this campaign, please refer to the above document (OSIP General Conditions of Participation).
Please note that restrictions exist for certain implementation paths, e.g. ESA procurement actions are restricted to entities eligible to do business with ESA (see 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) the following general key acceptance factors to participate in the Campaign apply:
- The submitting entity needs to address the Campaign topic(s) as described above
- The submitting entity needs to address the constraints and requirements as described above, particularly with respect to the fields and with respect to the integration and leveraging of Swiss capabilities
- All submissions shall be in English
- The entity identified as main author will be the main interface with ESA and needs to be based in an ESA Member State. Participation of sub-contractors outside ESA Member States shall be limited.
- Ideas should not exceed 5 pages in length (PDF export from OSIP), including abstract, answer to the key questions, and diagrams or illustrations.
Submissions not complying with these criteria will not be considered for evaluation.Evaluation Criteria
The key evaluation criteria for the idea phase is its innovation potential. This means that ideas should clearly describe what is new compared to published concepts, techniques or processes and how it would innovate or unlock new capabilities and discoveries beyond what is currently known. Ensure your idea is brief, clear, and impactful to resonate with a diverse technical evaluation board. The interest in and motivation of working with the Swiss ecosystem as well as background and qualification of the researcher (key personnel) will also be considered.