How much of my project does ARTES pay?

ARTES is co-funding: typical ESA contributions range from 50% to 75% of eligible cost depending on the element and company size, with the rest coming from you (and sometimes national delegations). Exact rates are defined per activity line and call.

Who can apply to ARTES?

Companies and institutions in ESA member states that subscribe to the relevant ARTES element — eligibility depends on your national delegation's participation and usually requires a letter of support from it. Check with your national space office before writing a proposal.

What is ESA ARTES?

ARTES (Advanced Research in Telecommunications Systems) is ESA's long-running optional programme for satellite communications: it co-funds companies developing satcom technology, products and services — from feasibility studies through product development to in-orbit demonstration. A large share of the live ESA tenders a satcom startup will ever see are ARTES invitations to tender.

The main lines

ARTES is organised in elements (names evolve between ministerial councils, but the logic holds):

Future Preparation / studies — early de-risking and market analysis.
Core Competitiveness (Advanced Technology + Products) — maturing technology and turning it into sellable telecom products.
Business Applications & Space Solutions (BASS) — services that use satcom (often with Kick-Start-style entry activities).
Partnership Projects / 4S & flagship lines — larger public-private developments, including strategic programme lines around secure and 5G/6G-era connectivity.

The practical loop: activities appear as invitations to tender on esa-star; your country must subscribe to the element, and a national delegation letter of support is usually required before submission.

Why it matters for startups

ARTES accepts product thinking, not just research: consortium overhead is low (single-company proposals are normal), and co-funding leaves your equity untouched. Browse current ARTES-coded calls in the live catalogue: see live tenders — dozens carry an AO 1-… ARTES reference at any given time.

Official source: ESA — Connectivity & Secure Communications (ARTES).

Written by Tymofiy Badikov, founder of VIRA.space (Virtual Innovation Research Assistant) — operated by Space Tech Gateway Sp. z o.o., Kraków Technology Park. VIRA tracks live European space funding calls and checks your eligibility free: see live tenders.