APPLICATIONS / CONNECTIVITY & SECURE COMMUNICATIONS
Build beyond coverage.
5G Automotive Makerspace
Design, develop and test automotive satellite prototypes aligned with 5GAA workplans. Bring your hardware, protocols or handover algorithms from concept to test.
NEW CHALLENGE / LAUNCH: 03 NOVEMBER 2026
01 / CONNECT
5GAA-aligned workplans
02 / BUILD
Up to ~25 prototypes
03 / VALIDATE
Handover + 5G NTN tests
04 / SHARE
show case your prototype
01 / THE CHALLENGE
Prototype the next link in automotive.
Small teams. Real automotive prototypes.
The objective: design, develop and test automotive prototypes following 5G Automotive Association (5GAA) workplans, and increase the number of companies working on automotive satellite communications by 30%.
Start-ups, university spin-offs and very small companies are especially welcome, including teams new to ESA. Up to about 25 prototyping activities will explore antenna integration, protocols, automotive 5G NTN and predictive terrestrial–satellite handover.
PROTOTYPING / PRIORITY WORK AREAS
ANTENNAS / Novel automotive integration concepts
HANDOVER / Predictive terrestrial–satellite transitions
TERMINALS / Miniaturised automotive baseband units
5G NTN / Automotive prototypes + air-interface robustness
As 5GAA workplans evolve, ESA will define further prototyping activities in agreement with the prime contractor.
02 / PROPOSED PROTOTYPE EVALUATION
From workplan to working prototype.
Eight proposed criteria for reviewing concepts against the activity objectives. These are editorial recommendations, not published ESA selection rules; scoring and weighting remain to be confirmed.
01
5GAA alignment
Identify the 5GAA work area, automotive use case and technical gap your prototype addresses.
02
Technical novelty
Explain what is new in your antenna, protocol, terminal, handover method or 5G NTN approach.
03
Prototype feasibility
Define the architecture, interfaces, hardware dependencies and a credible build-and-test plan.
04
Handover continuity
Where applicable, measure terrestrial–satellite transitions, interruption time and prediction accuracy.
05
Automotive integration
Address vehicle constraints, antenna integration, terminal size and baseband miniaturisation.
06
5G robustness
07
Delivery capability
Show team skills, milestones, resources and risks suited to a focused prototyping activity.
08
Ecosystem contribution
Explain how your work brings new companies into automotive SatCom and enables reusable learning.
03 / MEET THE BUILDERS BEHIND THE BUILDERS
Space meets automotive.
Meet the acitoflux × MHP consortium: connecting hands-on experimentation with automotive industry perspectives for the Makerspace.
The maker mindset
A hands-on setting for start-ups, spin-offs and very small companies to explore concepts, build prototypes and share technical learning.
The activity uses a prime-contractor model. Detailed management responsibilities and consortium work allocation are not specified in the supplied brief.
04 / ADVISORY BOARD
The people behind the perspective.
Meet the advisory board. Member portraits, names and company affiliations will be added as appointments are confirmed.
DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES. SHARED AMBITION.
Name to be announced
Company to be announced
Name to be announced
Company to be announced
Name to be announced
Company to be announced
Name to be announced
Company to be announced
05 / OUT OF THE LAB. INTO THE ROOM.
Meet the Makerspace.
Discuss 5GAA work areas, meet other builders and explore prototype ideas with the Makerspace. These suggested sessions are provisional; dates, venues and registration are still to be confirmed.
DATE TBA
PLANNED SESSION
Challenge briefing
Explore the 5GAA work areas, prototyping scope and the information to prepare for a concept proposal.
Online · details TBA
DATE TBA
PLANNED SESSION
Makerspace open lab
Meet acitoflux and MHP to discuss antennas, miniaturised terminals, 5G NTN and predictive handover.
In person · venue TBA
DATE TBA
PLANNED SESSION
Demonstrator showcase
Compare automotive integration concepts, handover measurements and 5G air-interface robustness results.
In person · venue TBA
06 / YOUR NEXT BUILD STARTS HERE
Bring your next automotive prototype.
Prepare your team profile, relevant 5GAA work area, prototype concept, targeted improvement and test plan. Include milestones, resources and your approach to IP and sharing results. Open-source hardware and shared-IP communities are encouraged; formal IP terms remain to be confirmed.
Launch: 3 November 2026. Funding, eligibility, submission deadline and the official application route are still to be confirmed. This page does not accept submissions.
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