Next generation ATS platforms for en-route and TMA operations
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See in 5 min if you're eligible for Next generation ATS platforms for en-route and TMA operations offering max €93.0M funding💰 Funding Details
Funding Description
Overview
This call – HORIZON-SESAR-2025-DES-IR-02-WA3-1: “Next generation ATS platforms for en-route and TMA operations” – is financed under the SESAR 3 Joint Undertaking (Horizon-Europe pillar). It uses the HORIZON-JU-RIA Lump-Sum Grant model, meaning that the EU contribution is paid as fixed lump-sum instalments linked to work-package completion and achievement of predefined milestones/outputs rather than to ex-post cost reporting.
* Total indicative EU contribution per grant: up to €93 million
* Technology domain: Air-Traffic Services (ATS) platforms (en-route & TMA) reaching TRL 6 by the end of the project.
* Opening / Deadline: 01 Apr 2025 – 16 Sep 2025 (17:00 Brussels).
What the Grant Funds
1. Ground system prototypes and integrated validations enabling IR-3-01 to IR-3-07 & IR-1-01 capabilities (level-4 automation, trustworthy AI, cyber-resilience, climate-optimised operations, etc.).
2. Air-ground and ground-ground integration activities (incl. coordination with WA1/WA5 projects) necessary to demonstrate TBO Phase-3 concepts.
3. Applied research & innovation activities up to TRL 6, including simulations, shadow mode trials, live trials, human-machine teaming experiments, safety & security assessments, green-performance dashboards, etc.
4. Consortium-level dissemination, standardisation & regulatory contributions (ICAO ATMRPP/ATMOPS, EUROCAE, EASA, EUROCONTROL, etc.).
Lump-Sum Specifics
* One global lump-sum is agreed at grant signature; payment is triggered by work-package-level deliverables and KPIs validated by the JU.
* Cost categories are not reported; however, applicants must build an internal cost model to justify realism during grant negotiation.
* Indirect costs are deemed covered by the lump-sum – no separate 25 % flat-rate applies.
Eligibility Snapshot
* Consortium must include minimum:
* ≥ 3 ANSPs from 3 different EU/Associated Countries.
* ≥ 1 established ATS system manufacturer, *or* credible evidence of capability to deliver prototypes at TRL 6.
* General Horizon Europe rules: legal entities from Member States or Associated Countries are automatically funded; others may participate at their own cost unless national funding exists.
* Security restrictions apply (cyber-security & communication networks) – participants from non-EU/AC may face additional scrutiny.
Funding Rate
* 100 % of eligible lump-sum amount for all beneficiaries (as RIA).
Key Grant Conditions
* Alignment with SESAR 3 Master Plan service-delivery model for a typical ACC.
* Commitment to perform integrated validations with outputs of other Work Areas (WA1 & WA5) – to be described in a dedicated work package.
* Implementation of post-quantum cryptography where relevant.
* Delivery of an open-access data-management plan (DMP) and an ethics & AI-trustworthiness framework.
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📊 At a Glance
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🇪🇺 Strategic Advantages
EU-Wide Advantages & Opportunities – HORIZON-SESAR-2025-DES-IR-02-WA3-1
1. Strategic Fit with EU Vision
• Green Deal & Fit-for-55: The topic’s focus on climate-optimised trajectories, contrail mitigation and integration of SAF/zero-emission aircraft directly supports the EU’s legally-binding climate targets.
• Digital Decade & Digital Europe: Level-4 automation, AI-enabled separation management and cyber-secure cloud-based virtual centres contribute to the EU ambition of 75 % of companies using cloud/AI and 20 % adoption of cutting-edge semiconductors by 2030.
• Single European Sky (SES2+): Developing next-generation ATS platforms is a cornerstone of SES performance pillars (capacity, safety, environment, cost-efficiency). The call is explicitly embedded in the SESAR Joint Undertaking Roadmap, ensuring policy-to-project continuity.
2. Access to the EU Single Market (450 + million citizens, 27 ANSPs, 500+ airports)
• Harmonised SWIM-based prototypes can be commercialised simultaneously in all EASA Member States without national re-certification loops, shortening go-to-market by 12-24 months.
• Civil–Military interoperability demanded by the topic opens access to 30 % of European airspace currently reserved for defence, expanding the commercial addressable market.
• Compliance with common EU cybersecurity & PQC guidelines (NIS2, EUCS) provides a “security passport” for deployment in any EU Member State.
3. Cross-Border Collaboration & Knowledge Exchange
• Mandatory participation of ≥3 ANSPs plus an ATM-system manufacturer creates a ready-made multinational consortium and testbed covering at least three Flight Information Regions (FIRs).
• Interoperability validation across different vendor platforms mirrors real network conditions, de-risking EU-wide roll-out and generating exportable reference architectures for ICAO regions.
• Alignment with ongoing SESAR projects (e.g., CONCERTO, GALAAD, R-WAKE, JARVIS) allows data sharing and integrated validations, reducing duplication and leveraging €1 bn+ of prior EU investment.
4. EU Regulatory Harmonisation Advantages
• Conformance with EASA ATM/ANS Common Regulations and upcoming SES Digital Regulation enables a single certification process instead of 27 national approvals.
• Early integration of ICAO IATF standards positions European industry as first movers, shaping global norms and opening export channels.
• Harmonised spectrum & CNS roadmaps (8.33 kHz VHF, L-band Digital Aeronautical Communications System, LEO VHF) avoid cross-border frequency conflicts.
5. Pan-European Innovation Ecosystem
• Direct access to Europe’s 300+ aviation R&D labs and 60+ living labs (including EUROCONTROL Experimental Centre, DLR’s Air-Traffic Validation Facility, ONERA, NLR).
• Synergies with Digital Innovation Hubs and EuroHPC Joint Undertaking provide subsidised AI compute for ML-based separation models.
• Talent pool of 200k European aerospace engineers and data scientists facilitates recruitment and secondments under MSCA & Erasmus+ mobility schemes.
6. Funding & Investment Leverage
• Cumulative funding chain:
• Horizon-SESAR RIA lump-sum → TRL 5-6.
• CEF2 Transport & Connecting Europe Facility „Single Sky“ window → pre-deployment & infrastructure.
• InvestEU & Recovery & Resilience Facility → large-scale deployment loans/guarantees.
• National Resilience Plans can co-finance virtual-centre back-offices via the Digital Transition pillar.
• Blending with EIB green aviation loans can cut financing costs by up to 150 bps.
7. Scalability & EU-Wide Impact
• Network effects: Each additional ANSP node increases SWIM data-sharing value exponentially, creating a strong incentive for EU-wide adoption.
• Project outputs feed the Common Project 2 (CP2) regulation mandatory deployment list, guaranteeing market pull across all core European airports (≈90 % of EU traffic).
• Environmental KPIs (CO2-e savings, contrail avoidance index) can be reported under the EU Taxonomy, enhancing airlines’ sustainable finance disclosures.
8. Complementarities & International Positioning
• Builds on EU-US ATM MoU and can attract FAA & NAV CANADA as third-country observers, reinforcing EU leadership.
• Results will populate EUROCAE/RTCA standards, strengthening Europe’s standards-setting influence.
• Supports EU Global Gateway by creating deployable digital ATM packages for partner regions in Africa & Asia, underlining geopolitical soft power.
9. Actionable Tips for Applicants
• Form a geographically balanced consortium (North-South-East-West) to maximise market representativeness and evaluation scores on EU added value.
• Map each work package to Green Deal, Digital Decade and SES KPIs to demonstrate policy coherence.
• Plan joint demonstrations in at least two FABs (e.g., FABEC & Baltic FAB) to evidence cross-border operability.
• Engage EASA Early Involvement and EUROCONTROL NM from month 1 to fast-track regulatory acceptance.
• Budget 5-10 % for standardisation & dissemination to secure a seat in EUROCAE WG-x and ICAO panels – a typical evaluator requirement for impact.
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Bottom Line: Operating at EU scale converts technical R&I into a de-risked, regulation-backed, pan-European market entry strategy, amplifying impact far beyond what any single Member State could achieve.
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