ESA

TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT ELEMENT - THE TECHNOLOGICAL NUCLEUS FOR FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS

The development of technology – making new things to do new things – is central to ESA’s existence and the Technology Development Element has given rise to most of the Agency’s advanced technologies.

Since 1975, TDE has been one of ESA’s Basic Activities. It's just one of the many activities and programmes that work together to help ESA prepare for the future but it is the only one that supports ESA across the entire spectrum of technical disciplines. Unlike the optional missions and programmes, it is funded on a mandatory basis.

The Technology Development Element (TDE) is responsible for early development stages across all service and technology domains. It tests the suitability of cutting edge ideas for space applications, keeping a central role in scientific activities. 

In the frame of this programme, ESA's Technology Strategy is implemented on a regularly updated 2-year rolling work plan.

~55M€IN CONTRACTS AWARDED
100%FUNDING OF ACTIVITIES
102M€WORK PLAN BUDGET
~150CONTRACTS PER YEAR

Programme in numbers and Key facts

Targeted for Technology:
100%
TRL Targeted (at the end of the activity):
up to 3-4
Procurement Policy:
Mandatory programme, Open Competitive (DN exceptional cases)
Call / ITT: 
Continuously throughout the year on ESA STAR
Call Restriction:
ESA Member States
Cycle: 
2 Year Work Plan/Procurement plans

HOW IT WORKS

Every two years, TDE produces a work plan, defined through the ESA Agency-wide Process for Technology R&D Management and TECNET. 

To support ESA’s technology targets, from 2021-2022 TDE will focus investments on digital engineering and COTS components development.

Projects are undertaken by European Academia and industry under ESA supervision. Recent examples include a 30% efficient spacecraft solar cell, an air-breathing engine for low-flying satellites, parachute designs for Mars and a laser tuner for advanced instruments.

Some TDE projects are undertaken specifically to meet the needs of missions to come, called a ‘technology pull’. Others take place as part of ESA’s cross-cutting initiatives focused on Advanced Manufacturing, for novel materials and production processes, Design 2 Produce for digitalisation of manufacturing, Clean Space to safeguard the orbital and Earth environments and Cyber Security for secure space systems.


Latest funding opportunities

Date openClose dateBudgetFieldTitle
15.03.202426.04.2024200-500 KEUROGSTP DEVELOP ELEMENT, TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT ELEMENT - THE TECHNOLOGICAL NUCLEUS FOR FUTURE DEVELOPMENTSREAL-TIME OPTIMAL GUIDANCE FOR A VERTICAL TAKEOFF AND LANDING SYSTEM
07.03.202404.04.2024500 KEUROTECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT ELEMENT - THE TECHNOLOGICAL NUCLEUS FOR FUTURE DEVELOPMENTSMASTERING PARACHUTE LOADING: PRELIMINARY DESIGN AND FUNCTION PROTOTYPING
22.02.202404.04.2024200-500 KEUROTECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT ELEMENT - THE TECHNOLOGICAL NUCLEUS FOR FUTURE DEVELOPMENTSADVANCED STRUCTURE WITH EMBEDDED PULSATING HEAT PIPES FOR PLANAR ACTIVE ANTENNA
06.03.202403.04.2024200-500 KEUROTECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT ELEMENT - THE TECHNOLOGICAL NUCLEUS FOR FUTURE DEVELOPMENTSMULTI-OBJECTIVE OPTIMISATION OF THRUSTER LAYOUT UNDER CONSTRAINT - EXPRO PLUS
13.03.202410.04.2024200-500 KEUROTECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT ELEMENT - THE TECHNOLOGICAL NUCLEUS FOR FUTURE DEVELOPMENTSTOWARDS GREENER MANUFACTURING, ASSEMBLY, INTEGRATION AND TEST PROCESSES - EXPRO PLUS
21.12.202322.02.2024500 KEUROTECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT ELEMENT - THE TECHNOLOGICAL NUCLEUS FOR FUTURE DEVELOPMENTSHIGH PERFORMANCE AND MODULAR BATTERIES FOR FUTURE LAUNCHERS
08.02.202421.03.2024500 KEUROTECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT ELEMENT - THE TECHNOLOGICAL NUCLEUS FOR FUTURE DEVELOPMENTSDESIGN MITIGATION TECHNIQUES EVALUATION OF ADVANCED COTS FPGAS FOR ESA MISSIONS
22.01.202405.03.2024200-500 KEUROTECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT ELEMENT - THE TECHNOLOGICAL NUCLEUS FOR FUTURE DEVELOPMENTSRELIABLE, MODULAR AND SCALABLE EUROPEAN BATTERY RANGE - EXPRO PLUS
14.02.202427.03.2024200-500 KEUROTECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT ELEMENT - THE TECHNOLOGICAL NUCLEUS FOR FUTURE DEVELOPMENTSHEAT RECOVERY AND THERMAL MANAGEMENT SUB-SYSTEM FOR DEEP SPACE MISSIONS
12.12.202305.02.2024200-500 KEUROTECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT ELEMENT - THE TECHNOLOGICAL NUCLEUS FOR FUTURE DEVELOPMENTSENABLING TECHNOLOGIES FOR INTEROPERABLE GNSS AUGMENTATION FOR RAILWAY - EXPRO PLUS
07.12.202319.01.2024200-500 KEUROTECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT ELEMENT - THE TECHNOLOGICAL NUCLEUS FOR FUTURE DEVELOPMENTSEXPANDED STRENGTH AND DUCTILITY ENVELOPE OF METALS BY MICROSTRUCTURE PROCESSING - EXPRO PLUS
03.11.202305.01.2024200-500 KEUROTECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT ELEMENT - THE TECHNOLOGICAL NUCLEUS FOR FUTURE DEVELOPMENTSFLUID-COOLED ROBOT SERVO TRAIN (FROST) - EXPRO PLUS
30.10.202327.11.2023200-500 KEUROTECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT ELEMENT - THE TECHNOLOGICAL NUCLEUS FOR FUTURE DEVELOPMENTSADVANCED CONTROL TECHNIQUES FOR INCREASED ON BOARD AUTONOMY - EXPRO PLUS
31.10.202312.12.2023500 KEUROTECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT ELEMENT - THE TECHNOLOGICAL NUCLEUS FOR FUTURE DEVELOPMENTSADHA MASS MEMORY MODULE (A3M)
18.01.202401.03.2024200-500 KEUROTECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT ELEMENT - THE TECHNOLOGICAL NUCLEUS FOR FUTURE DEVELOPMENTSDISTRIBUTED BEAMFORMING TELECOM PAYLOAD ARCHITECTURES - EXPRO PLUS
Latest closed studies
22.03.2024

Feeder-link demonstration using Technology Demonstration Payload on Alphasat

#TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT ELEMENT - THE TECHNOLOGICAL NUCLEUS FOR FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS
14.03.2024

High pressure water electrolyser development for exploration surface missions

#TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT ELEMENT - THE TECHNOLOGICAL NUCLEUS FOR FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS
14.03.2024

AstronauT HeaLtH EnhancemenT Integrated Countermeasure (ATHLETIC)

#TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT ELEMENT - THE TECHNOLOGICAL NUCLEUS FOR FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS
12.03.2024

Metallic Glasses for High Performance Mechanism Applications on Long Term Missions

#TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT ELEMENT - THE TECHNOLOGICAL NUCLEUS FOR FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS

DISCOVER ESA'S TECHNOLOGY STRATEGY

For any enquiries about TDE

Contact us via Email

Eike Kircher

Deputy Head of Technology Programmes Office