EU SST Framework Partnership Agreement

ended

This proposal addresses Horizon 2020 Work Programme 2016-2017, Action 5 LEIT/SPACE. In line with the Work Programme, it is a proposal by the consortium resulting from the implementation of the Space Surveillance and Tracking (SST) Support Framework, within the meaning of Article 7(3) of the Decision No 541/2014/EU of the European Parliament and the Council establishing a Framework for SST Support, comprising bodies designated by participating Member States (ASI, CDTI, CNES, DLR and UKSA) and the EU SatCen. The proposal is aimed at specifying the Framework Partnership for upcoming Horizon 2020 activities that will contribute to the SST Support Framework and to the improvement of the performances of the SST at European level (SST evolution). In particular, the activities addressed in this FPA aim at supporting the pooling of national resources on the SST objectives outlined in the aforementioned Decision, as well as supporting the SST evolution needs in line with the objectives and challenges of Horizon 2020 related to protecting Europe’s investment made in space infrastructure; and at achieving significant economies of scale by joining related Horizon 2020 resources (LEIT/space and secure societies), European Satellite Navigation Programmes and Copernicus resources, in addition to the cumulative national investment of the Member States participating in the SST Support Framework, which largely exceeds the Union contribution through the aforementioned EU funding programmes. The document includes an introduction to the context resulting to the FPA proposal, a description of the FPA objectives, of the strategic context for the future evolution of EU SST, of the expected impacts of the FPA and of the Action Plan of activities to be covered under the FPA. Furthermore, it provides an outline of the management structure and procedures of this partnership and of aspects concerning ethics and security, as well as the description of the members of the SST Cooperation.