• The 2024 call is focused on promoting the medium and long-term competitiveness of the Spanish space industry through R&D-based improvement of technological capabilities

  • It will be managed by the Center for Industrial Technological Development (CDTI), with the collaboration of the Spanish Space Agency in the project evaluation phase.

  • PTE 2024 falls within the scope of PERTE Aerospace and is financed from the funds of the Recovery and Resilience Mechanism of the addendum to the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan

CDTI Innovation launches the 2024 call for the Space Technology Program, an action in the field of PERTE Aerospace focused on promoting the competitiveness of the Spanish aerospace industry as a key actor for the next challenges and opportunities of the sector through the development of technological capabilities based on I +D. Endowed with 70 million euros in subsidies from the Recovery and Resilience Mechanism of the PRTR Addendum, applications can be made until June 19, 2024 and projects can receive up to 100% advance payment of the aid once the concession is approved.

Specifically, projects in the following areas will be financed:

  • New Space – satellite constellations: with 30 million euros for R&D projects to develop new products, processes or services or that allow considerably improving the mass production capacity of space systems, at the level of subsystems and payloads , with potential demand in future satellite constellations, especially those of a strategic nature for Spanish positioning and leadership in the global operation of future satellite services.
  • Bottom-up space technology maturation: with 40 million euros for projects that promote progress in the level of maturity of space technologies, especially those with a high disruptive potential, that generate a large recurrence of use and/or commercial or enable the development of cutting-edge scientific instrumentation for future space science missions. Of the budget reserve for this topic, 16 million will be reserved for small projects.

The R&D projects, which must begin in 2024 and conclude before December 31, 2026, will have to be presented by business consortia in two modalities:

  • Large projects, with eligible budgets of between 5 and 25 million, consortia of 2 to 6 companies with at least one SME and led by medium or large companies, relevant subcontracting to research organizations of at least 15% of the eligible budget.
  • Small projects, with eligible budgets between €1 and €4 million, consortia of 2 to 6 companies with at least one SME and led by medium or small companies (micro-SMEs cannot act as project leaders), relevant subcontracting to research organizations of at least 10% of the eligible budget. Large companies can participate up to a maximum of 35% of the eligible budget.

The Minister of Science, Innovation and Universities, Diana Morant, has highlighted that “the objective of this program, which is part of the PERTE Aerospace, is to boost the competitiveness of the Spanish aerospace industry as a key actor for the next challenges and opportunities of the sector. through the development of technological capabilities.” Likewise, she has stressed that “the commitment of the Government of Spain to space generates new opportunities and industrial capabilities that make us a more resilient country with greater strategic autonomy.”

Until 2025, PERTE Aerospace will mobilize more than 4.5 billion euros to promote science and innovation in the aerospace field with the aim of responding to the challenges of the sector such as climate change, global security and the digital transition.

The final opening date of the call will be published soon in the Official State Gazette and applications will be made through the CDTI electronic headquarters at https//sede.cdti.gob.es/.

More information about the 2024 call for the Space Technology Program: https://www.cdti.es/ayudas/programa-tecnologico-espacial-pte