Simulation and intelligence technologies are becoming central to how future space transportation systems are designed, manufactured and operated. Within ESA’s programme for future space transportation, FLPP, FIRST! is the initiative dedicated to maturing disruptive technologies with clear commercial potential. The FIRST! Simulation & Intelligence Pitch Day on 6 November 2025 created early alignment between technology providers and space transportation service providers. The insights gathered support the definition of the newly released FIRST! Simulation & Intelligence Invitation to Tender.
The call for ideas attracted 53 eligible submissions from organisations across 12 countries, covering data-driven design and simulation, on-board embodied intelligence, and smart manufacturing and testing. These domains were explored throughout the Pitch Day, with Q&A sessions, as well as presentations from space transportation service providers and technology providers. ESA also facilitated B2B meetings, which allowed participants to examine feasibility and explore possible collaboration pathways.
“Advancements in Computing, Software, Data-driven Engineering and now AI, are disrupting hardware-rich industries across the whole engineering lifecycle. FIRST! Simulation and Intelligence is seeking to spin-in and de-risk these technologies for European space transportation applications,” said Daniel Chipping, Technical Officer for FIRST!.
ITT Exploring Software, Data and AI in Space Transportation
ESA has now opened the Invitation to Tender (ITT) for FIRST! Simulation & Intelligence, inviting proposals for 12-month technology maturation contracts. Proposals must demonstrate technical merit and commercial application, and articulate use cases informed by the needs expressed by space transportation operators during the Pitch Day.
The ITT covers the three domains:
- Data-driven Design & Simulation for Space Transportation: Technologies that leverage novel data-driven methods to support the design, definition, simulation and de-risking of new space transportation systems and associated processes.
- Smart Manufacturing & Testing for Space Transportation: Technologies that leverage the latest digital technologies to improve the efficiency and capability to manufacture and test space transportation components, sub-systems and systems (e.g. Industry 4.0).
- On-board & Embodied Intelligence for Space Transportation: Technologies that leverage or support on-board decision-making (OBDM) to improve the autonomy and intelligence of space transportation systems during its operational phase.
Companies are welcome to submit a proposal even if they did not participate in the first stage Call for Ideas.
The two-stage model used by FIRST! connects technology providers with technology users to refine their proposals before submitting full proposals, ensuring that selected ideas reflect the needs of space transportation service providers.
Companies selected for the ITT might also gain access to ESA’s Space HPC supercomputer at ESA ESRIN, in Italy, which is designed for complex simulations, data-intensive processing and machine-learning model training. The system offers flexible, high-performance CPU, GPU and mixed-node partitions, alongside secure data handling and a light application process. These capabilities allow start-ups and SMEs to run computationally demanding workloads under realistic conditions, accelerating development and de-risking designs before physical prototyping.
The Simulation & Intelligence round continues the broader FIRST! approach: early engagement through ESA’s Open Space Innovation Platform OSIP, dialogue at the Pitch Day, and a competitive ITT. This model avoids the fragmentation often seen when technologies are developed in isolation from operational needs. Instead, it links developers, users, investors and ESA experts at the earliest stages, ensuring that technologies mature with clear commercial applications and fit within the future European space transportation ecosystem.
The FIRST! Simulation & Intelligence ITT is now open on esa-star, available to entities in FLPP participating Member States until 27 February 2026 at 13:00. Further updates on the FLPP programme will be shared at the FLPP Spring Session on 9 March 2026.