Technologies for European non-dependence and competitiveness

The space sector is a strategic asset contributing to the independence, security and prosperity of Europe and its role in the world. Europe needs non-dependent access to critical space technologies, which is a sine qua non condition for achieving Europe’s strategic objectives. "Non-dependence" refers to the possibility for Europe to have free, unrestricted access to any required space technology. Reaching non-dependence in certain technologies will open new markets to our industries and will increase the overall competitiveness of the European Space sector.

Research in technologies for European non-dependence and competitiveness has been undertaken within the frame of the Commission-ESA-EDA Joint Task Force (JTF) on Critical Technologies for European non-Dependence, launched in 2008.

In 2016, the JTF established the List of Actions for 2018-2020 (hereinafter JTF List of Actions 2018-2020), aiming at enhancing the TRL of the technologies identified in the list. Actions from this List of Actions 2018-2020 shall be implemented sequentially in 2018 and in 2019 as the following subtopics.

Group A (2018):

• JTF-2018/20-3 – High Capacity FPGAs [U12]
• JTF-2018/20-8 – ASICS: 28nm Deep Sub-Micron (DSM) [U22b]
• JTF-2018/20-16 – Active discrete power components [U14]
• JTF-2018/20-18 – RF components [N27]
• JTF-2018/20-19 – Passive components [U13]
• JTF-2018/20-22 – High temperature packaging [N49]

Group B (2019):

• JTF-2018/20-2 – ASICS for mixed signal processing [U11]
• JTF-2018/20-11 – Design and qualification of µcontroller for space applications [N52]
• JTF-2018/20-12 – Design and prototype of nvRAM for SPACE with serial interface ((quad)-SPI) [N53]
• JTF-2018/20-21 – High density (1000 pins and beyond) assembly capabilities and PCBs [U17]
• JTF-2018/20-28 – Photonics components [U15]
• JTF-2018/20-31 – Advanced laser crystals for high power space applications [N63]

Group C (2020):

• JTF-2018/20-5 – Very high performance microprocessors [U20]
• JTF-2018/20-9 – Design and prototype of ultra-reprogrammable SoCs [N50]
• JTF-2018/20-14 – Fiber optic or photonic integrated technology gyro-based inertial measurement unit (IMU) [U6]
• JTF-2018/20-16 – Active discrete power components [U14]
• JTF-2018/20-17 – Power amplification: travelling wave tube materials [U7]
• JTF-2018/20-23 – SW tool: automatic generation of code [N64]
• JTF-2018/20-33 – Advanced materials and material technology for combustion chambers [U4]