Enabling & Support
13/10/2025
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The General Support Technology Programme (GSTP) is pleased to announce the publication of the GSTP Element 1 ‘Develop’ Compendia 2026-2028.
GSTP Element 1 ‘Develop’ Compendia 2026-2028 on esa-star Publication News.
Aligned with the ESA Strategy 2040 and the ESA Technology Vision 2040, this edition of the GSTP Compendia addresses key strategic technologies for implementation in the 2026-2028 timeframe.
OSIP GSTP Compendia Campaign 2026-2028
A dedicated OSIP Campaign has been launched where ESA invites European entities to signal non‑binding interest in specific items listed in the GSTP Compendia.
Space actors are invited to participate in this campaign. Campaign results will help ESA and National Delegation in defining the GSTP Element 1 Work Plan and its implementation during the 2026-2028 period. The technology development activities presented in GSTP Compendia are fully ESA funded (100%) enabling the cooperation of economic operators.
Date extended: Space actors must express interest before 7th November 2025.
GSTP
Cybersecurity technologies workshop in preparation for GSTP Compendia
Through the GSTP optional programme, ESA, Participating States and Industry work together to convert promising engineering concepts into a broad spectrum of useable products. The Programme takes leading-edge technologies that are not ready to be sent into space and then develops them to be used in future missions. The GSTP has demonstrated itself as a successful and key programme for building know-how and capabilities in the industry, having been recognised by the Participating States as one of the best instruments in ESA to help assure Europe’s competitiveness in the global market, creating jobs and keeping Europe at the forefront of technological innovation.
Compendia
The 2026-2028 edition of the Compendia was elaborated by the ESA Technical leads and reviewed by Application Leads in the areas of Earth Observation, Science, Exploration, Space Transportation, Navigation and Space Safety. In addition, the activities from some of the key strategic technology areas like Quantum Technologies, Cybersecurity and Serialisation (Standardised Sub-Systems) were validated and consolidated by industry during dedicated workshops.
Fostering innovation and strengthen European competitivities is key to the future development of space technologies. The Compendia is therefore open to comments and acts as a platform for discussion and support amongst industry and the GSTP delegation – building capabilities and enhancing cooperation.
Activities included in the Compendia are categorised in three key areas.
There are a total of 202 activities included in the Compendia, categorised in three key areas.
1. Generic Technology Areas
90 activities on generic technologies, considering critical elements of importance such as: fostering state of art technology adoption, innovation, technology push, spin–in of commercial technologies, supporting industrial sustainability, capacity building, European competitiveness and risk obsolescence management of critical parts.
2. Technology Focus Areas
Activity developments targeting technology themes that need special attention, as highlighted in the context of the ESA Strategy 2040:
Artificial Intelligence (AI):
31 activities focusing on topics that cover the deployment of AI throughout the engineering lifecycle, from early-stage design and simulation to operational autonomy, and data management, with collaborative tools, robust frameworks, and cutting-edge AI methods at the core. Each activity focusses on the development and application of AI techniques identified as having the greatest potential to enhance space system capabilities or to enable entirely new missions and applications:
AI for mission design/engineering
AI for mission operations
AI for data insights.
Quantum Technologies:
22 activities that develop the underlying theory, techniques and technologies on quantum processing, that enhance the performance, payload and/or mission planning of European activities. Quantum technology can be applied to several different cases, secure communication, computation, simulation and sensing.
Activities in this Compendium address in particular technologies for high performance optical clocks and Cold atom interferometer building blocks:
High performance optical clocks
Cold atom interferometer building blocks
Quantum based sensors
Photonics enabling miniaturization of quantum instruments
Quantum computing algorithms and tools for space applications.
Innovative propulsion:
10 activities that address propulsion developments in the key areas of higher-performance; Greener and lower-cost technologies; and technologies expanding space logistics capabilities. Compendium activities are aimed at both reinforcing existing capabilities and driving the development of next-generation tools and systems, while targeting reduced recurring costs and increased reliability and sustainability of propulsion and fluid mechanics technologies.
Higher performance technologies (e.g., Advance Airbreathing Propulsion)
Technologies expanding the space logistic capabilities Innovative Aerodynamic Surfaces, ISRU propellants)
Greener and lower cost technologies (e.g. Long-Term Storability and Operation of Hydrogen Peroxide, Water Propulsion).
Sustainable Space:
17 activities that are driven by the ESA strong goals to understand and mitigate environmental impacts of space missions on Earth’s environment across their entire life cycle and preserve Earth’s orbital environment as a safe zone free of debris, while contributing to a sustainable and competitive European space industry. Activities presented in Compendium address the core areas:
Ecodesign – implement sustainable practices in satellite design (ecodesign), production, and operations to minimise environmental impact throughout their lifecycle.
Zero Debris – developing and integrating innovative solutions to significantly limit the generation of debris in Earth and Lunar orbits for all future missions, programmes and activities by 2030.
Circular Economy – encompasses a range of disruptive technologies and in-orbit capabilities aimed at extending the lifespan of space assets essential for the satellite maintenance and space-based industry.
3. Specific Areas
Activity developments targeting specific areas, as a first mechanism to launch and prioritise key topics.
Cybersecurity:
10 activities that target to constitute the cornerstone of the security protection of future space missions, for ESA, for its Member States and their Industry. The activities are envisaged to cover the most important pillars of the security protection of space systems. These include traditional areas, like protection of the communication links and ground segment cyber security, but also:
On-board security protection
Radio Frequency and optical link protection
Quantum resistance crypto units
Space Situational Awareness and Threat Intelligence.
Serialisation / Standardised Sub-Systems:
13 activities maturing technologies aiming at increasing competitiveness and European sovereignty in the supply chain, with priority for enabling interchangeability and inter-operability of equipment and modules. Given the progress already made in this direction with Advanced Architecture in Data Handling (ADHA) and Power (APA) activities for large satellites, the focus is to apply the ADHA-APA lessons learned and to adapt as necessary for mid-size satellites for LEO constellations.
Needed to provide European sovereign platform architectures for operations in LEO
Aimed at established & New Space industry
Promote interoperable equipment to enable ‘dual+’ sourcing with architecture & Design flexibility (ADHA, APA) supply chain for platform & payloads, M-IND
Federating and ensuring compatibility & inter-operability
Industrialisation and Competitiveness.
Technologies for VLEO (Very Low Earth Orbit):
9 activities addressing Very Low Earth Orbits (VLEOs) mission enabling technologies. VLEO is of major importance for future missions for a huge variety of applications ranging from commercial telecommunication to atmospheric science due to specific features of the orbit allowing increased resolution, improved link budgets, reduced latency and easier end of life compliance.
Activities in the Compendium address:
System Design and Simulation
Attitude and Orbit Control and Propulsion Technologies
VLEO compatible Materials & Structures
Payload Technology.
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