Advanced Research in Telecommunications Systems Programme (ARTES)
Source: gov.uk (2025-10-30)

ARTES is the European Space Agency (ESA) research and development programme for commercial telecommunications products and services.

The UK subscribed £190m to the ARTES programme, to support UK industry develop the next generation of telecommunications products, services and applications. This guidance refers to the technology development elements of the programme and not Business Applications.

Information on how to apply for Business Applications (https://business.esa.int/).

Current funding opportunities

ARTES has three main funding programmes: Advanced Technology, Competitiveness and Growth and UK National Delegate support for the ESA ARTES Public Partnership Programme

Visit our Apply for funding (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/apply-for-funding-academic-community-and-educational) page for information on these calls and further funding opportunities from the UK Space Agency, the space sector, academic, education and community partners.

Previous funding opportunities

‘Connecting People’ Call – February – March 2023 (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-national-delegate-support-for-the-connecting-people-call)

Public Partnership Programme (PPP) - January – March 2023 (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/apply-for-uk-national-delegate-support-for-the-esa-artes-public-partnership-programme-ppp)

Competitiveness and Growth – January – March 2023 (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/apply-for-uk-national-delegate-support-for-the-esa-artes-programme)

Optical (OPS-SAT VOLT) and Lunar Communications Call – September – November 2022 (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/call-for-applications-uk-national-delegate-support-for-the-ops-sat-versatile-optical-laboratory-for-telecoms-volt-and-lunar-communications-artes?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=govuk-notifications-topic&utm_source=1942cd64-e2e1-4821-b54d-9de259143061&utm_content=immediately)

‘Opening Space with 5G’ & ‘5G Hub at Harwell Calls – October – November 2022 (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/call-for-applications-uk-national-delegate-support-for-the-opening-space-with-5g-and-5g-hub-at-harwell)

Complaints

If you are unhappy with either the outcome of your application or how the process was managed, or for any other reason, you can make a complaint by contacting the team at xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx).

Please set out the nature of your complaint in detail. The team will try to resolve a complaint in the first instance but, if resolution is not possible, we will refer it to the UK Space Agency central complaints process, where it will be independently assessed.

Further information

If you would like any further information, or have any questions or feedback about this guidance, please contact the team at xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx) or sign up for our mailing list here (https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=BXCsy8EC60O0l-ZJLRst2OurAKcNqS1OrQ-y-iVX5BpUOE04UFNXUU42VENDUEhDNEdFVUxRVVNJTS4u&route=shorturl).

Telecommunications monthly information webinars

If you are interested in finding out more about the programmes covered by the team, the opportunities these provide, and the processes of applying for funding, then please register for one of our monthly information webinars. These will run as short presentations with Q&A sessions afterwards. Upcoming dates are:
- Wednesday 26 November 2025
- Wednesday 17 December 2025
- Wednesday 28 January 2026
- Wednesday 25 February 2026
- Wednesday 18 March 2026
- Wednesday 29 April 2026
- Wednesday 27 May 2026
- Wednesday 24 June 2026
- Wednesday 29 July 2026
- Wednesday 26 August 2026
- Wednesday 30 September 2026
- Wednesday 28 October 2026
- Wednesday 25 November 2026
- Wednesday 16 December 2026
Please note all sessions will run from 2pm to 2:45 pm.

Please sign up here (https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=BXCsy8EC60O0l-ZJLRst2OurAKcNqS1OrQ-y-iVX5BpUQlNUUkdJQU5RT0lKTUdBNzdDRVoyNUxQWC4u&route=shorturl).

Programme news

UK sets aside £20M for telecoms, aerial services (https://www.mobileworldlive.com/featured-content/top-three/uk-sets-aside-20m-for-telecoms-aerial-services/?ID=a6g69000000kSOvAAM&JobID=1577217&utm_source=sfmc&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=MWL_20230712&utm_content=https%3a%2f%2fwww.mobileworldlive.com%2ffeatured-content%2ftop-three%2fuk-sets-aside-20m-for-telecoms-aerial-services%2f)

World’s first fully flexible satellite lifts-off (https://www.gov.uk/government/news/worlds-first-fully-flexible-satellite-lifts-off)

British-built satellites will help fight climate change and save wildlife (https://www.gov.uk/government/news/british-built-satellites-will-help-fight-climate-change-and-save-wildlife)

UK companies join forces to build revolutionary beam-hopping satellite (https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-companies-join-forces-to-build-revolutionary-beam-hopping-satellite)

New government funding helps UK companies lead the way for future Moon missions (https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-government-funding-helps-uk-companies-lead-the-way-for-future-moon-missions)

Government-backed 5G facility to be built in Oxfordshire (https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-backed-5g-facility-to-be-built-in-oxfordshire)