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The Canadian Space Agency has posted notice of its upcoming annual Space Technology Development Program announcement of opportunity.
This years announcement of opportunity (AO) is known as Space Technology Development Program Industrial Capability-Building Contributions (AO 6).
According to the CSA;
Eligible projects will include all the space technologies including those increasing on-board autonomy and improving the ground segment.
Eligible projects do not include application development software and activities related to Earth Observation and Satellite Telecommunication data. Specifically in relation to earth observation data, the CSA manages a separate program entitled the Earth Observation Applications Development Program (EOADP), which covers such activities.
The definition of research and development (R&D) used by the STDP, and for this notice, is as follows: “Any pre-commercial technology activities that are carried out to resolve unknowns regarding the feasibility of space concepts in the space sector.”
AO 6 will be divided into five categories.
AO 6.1 Space R&D – Advanced technologies: Non-repayable contributions of up to $1 million for R&D space projects with the potential of economic benefits in the short to medium term, between 2 and 5 years. Initial technology readiness level (TRL) for these projects is expected to be TRL 4 or TRL 5.
Note: This category is open to all for-profit and not-for-profit Canadian businesses.
AO 6.2 Space R&D – Small businesses: Non-repayable contributions of up to $250,000 for R&D space projects carried out by small businesses.
Note: This category is open exclusively to for-profit and not-for-profit Canadian small businesses (with up to 50 employees).
AO 6.3 Space R&D – Feasibility studies: Non-repayable contributions of up to $100,000 for feasibility studies related to space system design projects for technologies with strong commercial potential.
The R&D projects within this category are those whose potential for expected economic benefits is in the medium and long term, between 5 to 10 years.
Note: This category is open to all for-profit and not-for-profit Canadian businesses.
AO 6.4 Space R&D – Next wave technologies: Non-repayable contributions of up to $500,000 for R&D space projects with the potential of economic benefits in the medium to long term, between 5 and 10 years.
Note: This category is open to all for-profit and not-for-profit Canadian businesses.
AO 6.5 Space R&D – Suborbital Capability Demonstration: Non-repayable contributions of up to $300,000 for R&D space projects with the potential of economic benefits in the short to medium term, between 2 and 5 years.
The Capability Demonstration opportunity is to enable the recipients to prepare for, execute and close-out a demonstration of the capability of their technology on a CSA provided capability demonstration platform. It does not include the design and development of an instrument, payload or platform (e.g. Basic R&D from TRL 1 to TRL 4). However, it does include the R&D to adapt an existing instrument or payload for its integration on a demonstration platform.
Demonstration platforms to be made available by the CSA, subject to CSA priorities and budget availability, can include stratospheric balloons (short and long duration flights) and parabolic flights.
Note: This category is open to all for-profit and not-for-profit Canadian businesses.
