Guidance

ARTES: What You Need to Know

Updated 1 April 2026

1. Overview 

The Advanced Research in Telecommunication Systems (ARTES) is the European Space Agency’s (ESA) flagship programme for satellite communications. It supports the development of new technologies, services and applications across the space, ground and network segments, helping UK companies bring innovative satcom solutions to market.  

For the UK, ARTES is a strategic mechanism to drive growth in space-based telecoms, strengthen national capabilities, and secure high-value industrial opportunities. It supports UK priorities such as integration of satellite systems with terrestrial networks (including 5G and beyond), enabling resilient connectivity for remote communities, and fostering partnerships that attract inward investment. UK participation in ARTES ensures our industry remains at the forefront of emerging markets like LEO constellations, optical communications, and secure connectivity, while contributing to wider European objectives. 

The UK is a major investor in ARTES and subscribed £141.4m at the most recent ESA Council of Ministers. 

Detailed guidance, assessment criteria and eligibility will be released as part of each call for proposals. All competitions (open and closed) will be found here - Apply for funding: space-related R&D, innovation and education - GOV.UK

The ARTES programme is split into further sub-programme lines by ESA, each with their own focus: 

1. Early‑stage studies: Future Preparation (Future Preparation – ESA CSC: Connectivity & Secure Communications) 

2. Product and service development: Industrial Competitiveness (Industrial Competitiveness – ESA CSC: Connectivity & Secure Communications)  

3. Strategic and industrial partnerships: Partnership Projects (Partnership Projects – ESA CSC: Connectivity & Secure Communications) 

4. Strategic Programme Lines: Space for 5G/6G (Space for 5G/6G & Sustainable Connectivity – ESA CSC: Connectivity & Secure Communications), ScyLight(Optical & Quantum Communications – ScyLight – ESA CSC: Connectivity & Secure Communications) and 4S (Safety & Security – ESA CSC: Connectivity & Secure Communications).

For all programme lines except Future Preparation, applicants must demonstrate national delegate support prior to applying to ESA. This is called ‘National Delegate support’ and the UK delegates its ‘delegate support’ for the ARTES programme to the UK Space Agency Satellite Communications team. 

This page explains how UK organisations can engage with ARTES, how to seek UK National Delegate support, and where to find current funding opportunities.

2. ARTES Funding in the UK 

The UK Space Agency allocates its funding through a variety of ARTES mechanisms to ensure it provides the best return on investment for the UK. These include industry-led calls for proposals and ESA-initiated Invitations to Tender; each approach has their own process.   

a. Industry-led calls for proposal 

The UK allocates most of its funding through industry-led calls for proposals ensuring transparent access for industry and alignment with UK Space Agency’s commitment to running open, fair and strategically‑driven competitions. Successful activities may be delivered through several ESA ARTES programme lines including Industrial Competitiveness, Partnership Projects, Space for 5G/6G, ScyLight and 4S. The decision on which programme line the activity will be delivered through will be made by the UK Space Agency in conjunction with ESA and the applicant.

For all industry-led activities, applicants must demonstrate national support prior to applying to ESA. For an activity to be considered by ESA through an industry-led proposal, they must be able to showcase that they have support of their national delegate and ESA will reject an application if the support of the national delegate has not been shown with your initial application.  

All industry-led proposals require a compelling element of match-funding as part of their proposal and must be led by a commercial entity (Universities and RTOs are unable to prime an activity).  

ESA eligibility on match funding states companies can apply for up to 80% funding for programmes, whereas in the UK two funding limits are available depending on the size of the company applying:  

1. For all large or non-SME companies, including companies who are wholly owned by large companies or groups of companies, or for SMEs undertaking very high-value programmes – up to 50%. 
2. For all other SME companies and activities – up to 75%. 
3. For Universities, Research Institutes, and Public Sector Entities whose work as subcontractor is requested, justified, and supervised by the Industry consortium, and provided they do not retain any commercial (i.e. financial) interest in the future exploitation of the final product or service, and their funding does not exceed 30% of the total allowable cost - up to 100%. 

For Universities and Research Institutes pursuant to the previous paragraph, which have a demonstrated commercial interest in the future exploitation of the final product or service - up to 75%. 

However, all matched funding decisions remain at the discretion of the UK Space Agency and rates will be applied to individual organisations relative to their individual projects.   

For an activity to be considered by the European Space Agency through an industry-led proposal, they must be able to showcase that they have support of their national delegate.  

The UK Space Agency runs competitions to indicate which activities have provisional national delegate support at regular intervals throughout the year across three call-types. 

• ARTES General Call - These are general calls for developing new satellite communications technologies, systems or services across any part of the telecoms value chain. Technology Readiness Levels are expected to be at least 3 at the beginning of a project. 

• ARTES Thematic Call – These are focussed calls for proposals on specific thematic areas. Previous examples include: Ground Station Innovation, AI for SatCom and Aerial Connectivity (Drones and High-Altitude Psuedo Satellites) Technology Readiness Levels are expected to be at least 3 at the beginning of a project. 

• C-LEO ARTES Call - These are focussed calls for proposals delivered as part of the Connectivity in Low-Earth Orbit programme. Further information can be found here - C-LEO Programme - GOV.UK Technology Readiness Levels are expected to be at least 4 at the beginning of a project.

Detailed guidance, assessment criteria and eligibility will be released as part of each call for proposals. All competitions (open and closed) will be found here - Apply for funding: space-related R&D, innovation and education - GOV.UK

b. ESA-initiated Invitations to Tender 

ESA-initiated Invitations to Tender are up to 100% funded activities focussed on low technology readiness levels development activities where industry is less likely to take risks on long‑horizon, foundational capabilities. Proposals may be led by any eligible organisation (UK Company, Academia or Research and Technology Organisation). 

ESA-Initiated Invitations to Tender are activities proposed by ESA through a yearly work plan which is released on ESA-STAR. ESA-STAR is ESA’s procurement platform. Further information on the registration process can be found here: ESA-Star Registration Process. 

For Advanced Technology, Space for 5G/6G, ScyLight and 4S, the UK Space Agency pre-selects a number of ITTs which are to be supported by the UK National Delegate each year. The list of supported activities and application guidance can be found here – UK National Delegate support for the “Advanced Technology” Call - GOV.UK 

The UK National Delegate will not support proposals for any activities that are not on the list as a prime contractor or as a subcontractor. An invitation from the European Space Agency to bid for the tender will not be successful without national delegate support.

You should check the list of supported activities before beginning any work on a proposal to ensure it is supported by the UK National Delegate.

For Future Preparation, all activities are delivered through open competition between all ESA Member States. No national delegate supported is required for these activities and opportunities can be found on ESA-STAR. If you are successful in an application, please do let the UK Space Agency know via email.  

c. Contract Change Notice Support 

In some cases, changes in understanding may support adjustment of an initial project, if these would affect the output and scope of the project a Contract Change Notice (CCN) is needed. These also need to be supported by National Delegates. CCNs will be subject to the same scrutiny by the National Delegate as the initial application. Guidance on CCNs can be found here – UKSA ARTES CCN Guidance.docx 

d.  Further Information 

If you would like any further information, or have any questions or feedback about this guidance, please contact the team at telecoms@ukspaceagency.gov.uk or sign up for our mailing list here. 

The UK Space Agency runs a monthly information session which you can book on to find out more about the programmes the satellite communication team delivers  UK Space Agency Telecommunications Team Monthly Information Session Webinar Registration  – Fill in form.  

The UK Space Agency also runs monthly industry days where you can request a short in person meeting with a member of the team. To request a meeting please use this link - UK Space Agency Telecommunications Team – In-Person Meeting Requests 2026 – Fill in form  

For queries on ARTES opportunities or National Delegate support that is not covered by the guidance above please email: telecoms@ukspaceagency.gov.uk  

Please note that during competition windows we are unable to provide feedback on the content of any proposal but will be able to provide responses related to processes.