European Space Agency: Space For Underwater Radiated Noise Management
ESA seeks innovative services that use space technology to tackle underwater radiated noise (URN) in the marine environment.
Opportunity Details
When
Registration Opens
01/09/2025 00:00
Registration Closes
17/10/2025 17:00
Award
Up to 80% of costs can be covered for SMEs and universites/research institutes, and up to 50% for non-SMEs. Feasibility studies have a maximum cost of €500k; there is no maximum cost for demonstration projects.
Organisation
ESA
The European Space Agency (ESA) invites companies to participate in the ‘Space for Underwater Radiated Noise Management’ initiative. This opportunity aims to support the development of innovative services that leverage space technology to address the challenges posed by underwater radiated noise (URN) to the marine environment. The Call for Proposals welcomes submissions for Feasibility Studies and Demonstration Projects.
To apply, your team must be in an ESA member state (this includes the UK).
The challenge
Underwater Radiated Noise (URN) has emerged as a major and growing environmental pressure in marine ecosystems, largely driven by human activities such as commercial shipping and offshore operations. Among these, vessel traffic is the most significant source of continuous, low-frequency noise, with estimates indicating that 91% of Europe’s seas are exposed to ongoing shipping noise and 10% to high shipping density. Impulsive noise from activities such as seismic surveys or construction is more spatially limited, affecting around 8% of European marine areas.
Despite historically receiving less attention than other forms of marine pollution, the harmful effects of URN on marine life are increasingly recognised and URN is now emerging as a commercially relevant field across multiple maritime sectors.
ESA are seeking business ideas that demonstrate:
- Clear market opportunities and customer needs
- Commercially viable service concepts
- Feasible technical solutions
- Effective use of space data or technology
- Teams with business, technical, and financial expertise
The initiative is open to the submission of proposals for Feasibility Studies and Demonstration Projects:
- Feasibility studies – which provide the preparatory framework to identify, analyse and define new potentially sustainable services
- Demonstration Projects – dedicated to the implementation and demonstration of pre-operational services
ESA will hold a supporting webinar at 11am CEST (10am UK time) on 3 September.
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Funded participation to ESA Business Applications is open to any company and/or organisation, be it as group of users, public body or non-governmental organisation, residing in any of those states that subscribe to the BASS programme (this includes the UK).
Bidding teams must obtain Letter(s) of Authorisation from the relevant national delegation(s) before submitting a Full Proposal.
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The most recurring use cases, as identified by several organisations in different maritime sectors, have been categorised below.
Quiet Maritime Environment
- Quiet Ship Design, Voluntary Certification and Compliance
- Quiet Ship Operation
- Quiet Port Initiatives
Environmental Services
- URN in ESG and Digital Maritime Analytics
- URN Monitoring
- Risk mapping of URN impacts
- Monitoring shipping and URN impact on Marine Protected Areas
Subsea Activity Noise Management
- Construction noise mitigation
- Continuous machinery noise
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Direct detection of URN is not possible from space. However, several space-based assets provide valuable proxy data that can significantly enhance the understanding, monitoring, and mitigation of URN emissions. These include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Satellite communications: AIS (Automatic Identification System) data relayed via satellites enables near-global tracking of vessel movements, supporting the modelling and correlation of noise emissions with specific traffic patterns. When integrated with in-situ acoustic sensors or Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) systems, AIS data can enhance both real-time and retrospective analysis of underwater noise.
- Satellite Earth Observation (EO): EO data can support environmental characterisation, including bathymetry, sea surface temperature, and chlorophyll concentration, all of which influence the propagation of sound underwater. This characterisation is fundamental not only for maritime traffic modelling, but also for the Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) for offshore developments. EO systems also contribute to monitoring vessel activity in sensitive or protected areas, assisting enforcement and conservation efforts.
- Satellite Positioning and Timing: Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) underpin the positioning accuracy of AIS data, which is crucial for reliable noise modelling. Additionally, GNSS data can be used to implement geofencing of ecologically sensitive zones, enabling the enforcement of dynamic noise reduction measures or vessel exclusion policies.
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ESA offer funding and support to companies, both for business case assessment and for the development of new, space-based services. The offer includes:
- Zero-equity funding (50-80% depending on SME Status and Member State Approval)
- Technical and commercial guidance
- Access to our network and partners
- ESA brand credibility
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ESA will hold a supporting webinar on Wednesday 3 September at 11am CEST (10am UK time): click here to register for a place.
Support is also available from the UK Space Agency: the ESA Proposal Advice Service (ESA PAS) is a UK Space Agency-funded pilot programme designed to help UK-based organisations improve the quality of their proposals submitted to the European Space Agency (ESA). The service provides free, non-technical advice to organisations who are preparing ESA bids and want to strengthen their applications before submission. Click here to complete the ESA PAS form.
You can also contact Innovate UK Business Connect’s Space team for assistance.