New call offers €20 million to boost game-changing innovations for European launch solutions

The new call for proposals Game-Changing Innovation for European Launch Solutions (PPPA-2026-LAUNCHERS-GAMECHANGING) is open for submissions. 

The call aims to support EU entities to develop game-changing innovations for European launch solutions. It focuses on ambitious innovations which are not yet available and go beyond the state of the art for access to space in the EU.

Proposals should address launcher propulsion systems, related subsystems and composing materials from one of the following areas:

1. Staged combustion engine

2. Hybrid propulsion

3. Aerospike engine

4. Autophage propulsion

The starting maturity is expected to be between TRL3 and TRL6.  

These game-changing innovations must have a disruptive potential and positive and credible impact on the access to space competitiveness and EU strategic autonomy. They are expected to target an operational capacity (i.e. qualification of the innovation or first use in a launcher) at the latest in 2035.

The total available call budget is €20 million and the call is expected to fund three projects.

The call for proposals, which is managed by HaDEA, will close for submissions on 29 April 2026 at 17.00 (Brussels time).

More information can be found on the F&T Portal call page and in the call document. 

Background

With this preparatory action the EU intends to support EU innovators in their development of game-changing innovations that have the potential to revolutionise the future of access to space and improve the competitiveness of the European space industry.

The European Commission and European Parliament previously launched a contest for the award of prizes to the most disruptive European launch innovations – the results of which were announced recently at the 18^th European Space Conference.

As a follow-up, this subsequent action consists of a call for proposals leading to the award of grants to the best innovations to contribute to their technology development.