ISOS4I Pilot Mission Integrated Ground Test and consolidation of space-compatible USI solutions

Expected outcomes

• The topic does not say whether all outcomes must be addressed; treat them all as relevant.
• For each outcome (EO1 to EO3), name who will use or adopt your results (a specific group, not “industry” or “society”), how they get them, and the indicator that shows the change, with baseline, target and date.
• Use the topic's own words for each outcome, so the evaluator can tick it off.

What the scope asks for

Evaluators check the proposal against these sentences of the scope. Answer each one visibly, in the call's own words.

• “To tackle the above expected outcomes, the following R&I actions should be addressed in the shortest possible timeframe taking into account the provided technical annex:.”
• “Supporting the ISOS Pilot mission detailed mission and system design, demonstrating in an integrated ground test (TRL6) and a virtual testbed (System-of-Systems simulation) the interoperability of the developed mission components ground prototypes (i.e., Servicing, HOST, Logistic and satAPPs) with all applicable servicing interfaces and the baseline demonstration scenarios as defined in the technical annex (the applicable servicing interfaces…”
• “Proposals are expected to promote cooperation between different actors (industry, SMEs and research institutions) and consider opportunities to quickly turn technological innovation into commercial use.”
• “Proposals should clearly describe how previous and/or ongoing R&I of the mission components and any required additional technologies for the proposed ground test will be integrated and involve entities part of the key technology and service provider group, as necessary.”
• “Moreover, proposals should clearly identify the test facility/ies to be used for the ground demonstrator.”
• “Finally, proposals should build on the outcome of the CSA activities on (1) “Proposal for an as much as possible integrated ground demonstrator bringing together the different mission components at the end of their detailed design phase” and (2) “Proposal for USIs consolidation, i.e., selection of a single USI European solution or approach allowing compatibility with multiple solutions (required for the HC)”.”
• “Activities are expected to achieve TRL 6-7 by the end of the project.”
• “Proposals are expected to consider and contribute to a balanced provision of Member States’ and eligible Associated Countries’ expertise and capabilities to the overall ISOS pilot mission, to support a successful introduction of the strategic capacity ‘Act in Space’.”
• “The project selected from this topic will be a Linked Action and is expected to closely collaborate with those selected under topics HORIZON-CL4-2025-02-SPACE-21, 22, 23, 24 and ISOS Pilot Mission Coordination and Support Action, in order to ensure interoperability and the necessary and sufficient documentation and information sharing for the implementation of the Pilot Mission, to make economies of scale in sharing best practices, defining…”
• “In this topic, the integration of the gender dimension (sex and gender analysis) in research and innovation content should be addressed only if relevant in relation to the objectives of the research effort.”

Conditions that shape the proposal

• Part B, sections 1–3: 45 pages (standard application form). Text beyond the limit is not read; tables and figures count.
• Lump sum: the budget is fixed per work package and paid when each work package is completed. Every work package needs activities and deliverables an evaluator can verify, and the effort must match the money.
• TRL: the topic expects TRL 6–7 by the end of the project. State where you start and the evidence for it.
• Admissibility Conditions: Proposal page limit and layout: “The page limit of the application is 45 pages.”
• Other Eligible Conditions: “In order to achieve the expected outcomes, and safeguard the Union’s strategic assets, interests, autonomy, or security, participation is limited to legal entities established in Member States, Norway and Iceland. Proposals including entities established in countries outside the scope specified in the…”
• Other Eligible Conditions: “For the duly justified and exceptional reasons listed in the paragraph above, in order to guarantee the protection of the strategic interests of the Union and its Member States, entities established in an eligible country listed above, but which are directly or indirectly controlled by a non-eligible country or by a…”
• Other Eligible Conditions: “The following additional eligibility criteria apply: beneficiaries must include the beneficiaries of the ISOS Pilot Mission Coordination & Support Action, awarded under Other actions not subject to calls for proposals, from the Horizon Europe Cluster 4 Work Programme 2025, as commanded by the nature and objectives of…”
• Evaluation and award: Award criteria, scoring and thresholds: “The evaluation committee will be composed partially by representatives of EU institutions.”

Impact pathway and traps

• The scope expects pilots or demonstration. Name the sites, the partners who run them and what is measured there.
• The gender dimension is named in the topic. Show how sex and gender analysis enters the research content, not only team balance.
• Keep outputs, outcomes and impacts apart: what you deliver, what changes when others use it, and the long-term effect.
• For each destination impact you claim, show which of your outcomes feeds it. Destination impacts are long-term effects, not project deliverables.
• Name the barriers outside the project (regulation, markets, user behaviour) that could block uptake, and what you will do if they do.
• Section 2.3 (the summary canvas) is optional on this call; the old split into scientific, economic and societal impact is no longer required.