Automation, robotics and artificial intelligence (AI) especially in combination with standardisation, modularisation and digitalisation are key enablers, improving space systems and satellites’ flexibility and cost-efficiency, increasing sustainability and accessibility, introducing mass-customisation and cooperative design as well as simplifying operations

Adress the following areas:
– R&I on new scalable satellite platform concepts and building blocks increasing the degree

of satellite modularisation
– R&I on new on-orbit services concepts concentrating on a next generation of potential

business cases
– R&I to identify, develop and implement AI and industry 4.0 means

– A future space ecosystem, fostering the industrialisation and business in space as well as supporting scientifically meaningful missions

– Game-changing technologies, tools and processes enhancing on-orbit servicing applications and contribute to the protection of the in-space future ecosystem

– A paradigm shift towards sustainable, highly automated, flexible and economical viable space infrastructure

The expected outcomes of this topic is to prepare a European pioneering, high-impact but low-cost orbital demonstration mission for On-Orbit Servicing (OOS) in 2025-2026 period that will demonstrate and showcase European know-how, support market generation, open new business opportunities, foster international cooperation and deliver a long-lasting impact in the future space ecosystem

– Prepare a low cost orbital demonstration mission integrating robotic and autonomy technologies and technical building blocks with high-impact on future commercial services applying and enhancing the European Operations Framework for OOS
– Risk reduction of the intended pioneering orbital demonstration mission as well as at raise of confidence on OOS applications in general

– Сontribute to prepare and showcase a future space ecosystem fostering the EU’s space sector competitiveness
– Further building on modularity and enabling on-orbit servicing, assembly, manufacturing and recycling
– Facilitate a smooth transition between the short-term market needs and future commercial possibilities while respecting the protection of the in-space ecosystem

The actions are expected to enable R&I for the consolidation of integrated use cases and demonstration of EU

GOVSATCOM service interoperability in real user environment

– Development of an innovative use case exploiting a combination of secure SATCOM services, such as Mobile Satellite Service (MSS) and Fixed Satellite Service (FSS)

– Interoperability of services based on pooled and shared capacities from different satellite systems

– Interoperability of governmental satellite-based communication services with terrestrial communication services

– Development of end to end secure, interoperable, quickly deployable, affordable and user-friendly GOVSATCOM user services

– Integrated application leveraging the synergies with services provided by other Space Programme components (Galileo, EGNOS, Copernicus, SSA)

– Proof of concept in a real user environment;

– Awareness and outreach activities in favour of EU GOVSATCOM user uptake

– Consolidation of security-related services, demonstrations in a user context and in particular for civilian users and synergies with the services provided by the other components of the Space Regulation

– Service developments in support to all High Level User Needs, including direct involvement of users and with emphasis on civilian users and interoperability of services

Intro

The EU aims to lead just digital, economic and ecological transitions that will leave no one behind. Close to one third of EU citizens live in rural areas, which represent 83% of the EU territory and supply the whole of society with essential goods and services. These broad figures hide a variety of situations, challenges and opportunities regarding the aforementioned transitions that the current evidence base insufficiently captures.

Scope

The design of positive governance frameworks and policy interventions for rural communities is hampered by i) the lack of conceptual frameworks that properly grasp the role of rural areas and communities in sustainable development and sustainability transitions; ii) a lack of data on several aspects at the right geographic scale, in particular on climate and environment performance and on social challenges, quality of life and well-being. The lack of data at the right geographical scale (local in many cases) is hampered by the technical and economic difficulties of finer data collection.

Objectives

Proposals should explore innovative and out-of-the box ways to describe and characterise rural areas or various forms or degrees of rurality in multi-dimensional ways, screening a wide range of possible (including new) data sources going beyond conventional indicators such as population density and settlement configuration. They should analyse national and other definitions and approaches and engage with stakeholders to understand their perspectives on rurality. Proposals should define and describe functional linkages between various localities and territories and explore and develop ways to apply functional geography approaches to rural areas (e.g. developing the concept of functional rural area), learning from past work and failures on such approaches. Trade-offs in selected approaches should be analysed in regional and national contexts highlighting geographical differences.

– More evidence-based, place-based, integrated and tailored policies, strategies and governance frameworks at local, regional, national and EU levels to drive the sustainable transition of rural areas and communities, building on the specific outcomes below;
– A refined understanding by policy-makers and rural actors of the diversity of rural situations, and of the challenges and opportunities associated with megatrends, potential major shocks and upcoming transitions, in particular climate, environmental and social challenges, to tailor policy interventions to local realities;
– A refined understanding by policy-makers and rural actors of functional characteristics of territories, functional relations between rural places and other rural and/or urban places within a territorial continuum and the importance of these relations for sustainable development, to design synergistic approaches favouring a networked and interlinked development; and
– A refined assessment by policy-makers of the impact of all current and upcoming policies on rural communities (rural proofing), including sectoral or thematic policies (such as climate, energy, mobility, digitalisation, health and social inclusion), or policy frameworks designed to accompany sustainability transitions in general, to tailor interventions to maximise possibilities for rural communities to contribute to and benefit from these transitions.

Introduction

The European Green Deal refocused the European Commission’s commitment of tackling climate and environment-related challenges. It also aims to protect, conserve and enhance the EU’s natural capital, and protect the health and well-being of citizens from environment-related risks and impacts. In addition to aiming for climate neutrality by 2050, the Commission adopted a more ambitious EU strategy on adaptation to climate change on 24 February 2021. This is essential, as climate change will continue to create significant stress in Europe in spite of the mitigation efforts.

Scope

The aim of this topic is the identification, monitoring and quantification of direct and indirect impacts on human health, including in occupational settings, and related risk factors correlated to climate change, especially in vulnerable population groups such as children or in groups at risk such as workers. Innovative surveillance tools are further required to ensure a timely response to emerging threats, to feed and strengthen early warning systems, and to enable the design, monitoring and evaluation of interventions. This may include mathematical modelling with big data and artificial intelligence (AI), remote sensing, citizen science and biomarkers of exposure or virulence.

Objectives

– Research on the relationships between changes in environmental hazards caused by climate change, the impacts on interrelated ecosystems and their influence on human health;
– Climate induced emergence and transmission of pathogens and spread of zoonotic pathogens using Eco-health and One Health approaches;
– Development of predictive models and early warning systems for exposure and health impacts of climate change based on transparent assumptions and architecture;
– Development of tools for health impact and cost-benefit assessment of climate-change adaptation and mitigation measures;
– Investigation of health co-benefits of adaptation and mitigation policy measures outside the health sector;
– Demonstration of the validity of tools and methods developed in the above listed activities in policy-relevant case studies;
– Determination of the societal implications of climate change on health systems, including occupational health, and development of adaptation measures;
– Development of training materials and guidelines to educate relevant actors in citizens’ daily life on climate change health impacts and to facilitate adaptation of health systems and practices;
– Delivery of FAIR data on positive and negative health impacts of climate change, including impact on groups at higher risk or vulnerability.-