Enhancing Resilience and Accuracy in Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) Systems and e-conspicuity solutions
Horizon Europe · Grant topic
Summary
A Polish company can use this call for R&D.
Funds companies and researchers developing resilient positioning, navigation and timing using 5G, AI, sensors and cryptography, alongside electronic conspicuity solutions.
- Who can apply
- Companies can lead: SME, large company, startup, research org, university.
- Amount
- €5M per projectTotal budget €5,000,000
- Deadline
- 07 Oct 2027 02:00 CESTin 348 days
- Status
- Forthcomingopens 3 Jun 2027
Machine-classified from the call text; check eligibility at the source.
Description
Expected Outcome:
Project results are expected to contribute to all of the following expected outcomes:
• Development of solutions integrating 5G networks, supported by advanced signal processing techniques (e.g. AI-Enhanced Signal Processing) to improve the accuracy of PNT systems, as GNSS backup solutions to enhance resilience in contested environments, including filtering noise and interference from signals to enhance the precision of location data, and appropriate post-quantum cryptographic measures to enhance resilience against emerging threats.
• Integration with Other Technologies: Development of solutions leveraging Internet of Things (sensors, communication signals, AI-enhanced processing), and other sensing techniques to provide redundant and resilient navigation solutions and to enhance capabilities and applications, especially at low altitude airspace.
• E-conspicuity: Definition of mobile communication performance requirements for e-conspicuity, assessment of network performance and determination of minimum availability requirements for mobile telephony for collision to support collision avoidance for a drone and manned aircraft.
• Analysis of policy and regulatory aspects to better understand the legal and regulatory issues surrounding the deployment and use of PNT systems, including concerns related to privacy, spectrum management, international cooperation, and harmonisation of regulatory frameworks and shared technologies.
Scope:
Today’s Position, Navigation and Timing (PNT) services are primarily provided through Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) that tend to have weak signals and are vulnerable to jamming and spoofing.
This topic addresses alternative PNT methods that are essential to provide fallback options in case of GNSS signal loss or degradation. Great benefit is expected through integration of PNT technology with rapidly emerging technologies, such as 5G/6G and Internet of Things (IoT). The aim is to investigate innovative solutions for PNT – including the impact on the regulatory framework, integrating advanced 5G technologies and IoT to act as complementary, redundant, secure and resilient navigation solutions for aviation, including UAS, in challenging environments.
The topic also addresses e-conspicuity, aiming to enhance pilot awareness notably at lower altitudes in U-space airspace in order to reduces collision risk in general aviation, where most small aircraft rely on see-and-avoid. Mobile telephony, with minimum network performance requirements, can provide a safe, affordable communication solution for U-space entry and flight safety.
Technology Readiness Level - Technology readiness level expected from completed projects
Activities are expected to achieve TRL 6-7 by the end of the project – see General Annex B. Activities may start at any TRL.
Who can apply, in detail
- Applicant types
- SME, Large company, Startup, Research org, University
- Purpose
- Research and innovation
- R&D relevance
- 3 of 3
- Poland eligible
- Yes
- Country limit
- —
- Region
- Any
- Consortium
- Unclear
- Readiness level (TRL)
- —
- Topics
- Resilient positioning and navigation
- 5G signal processing
- AI and sensor fusion
- Post-quantum cryptography
- Electronic conspicuity
Machine-classified from the call text; check eligibility at the source. 23 Oct 2026
Conditions
Typed facts extracted from the source documents by Scindu's grant-data review. Each value keeps its own conditions. Unknown means unstated, not zero or unlimited.
- Consortium requiredBeneficiaries; affiliated entities do not count toward minimum
- Yes
Unless the topic provides otherwise, at least three independent legal-entity beneficiaries from three different countries: one from a Member State and two others each from different Member States or Associated Countries.
- Other condition
- The Work Programme classifies this exact topic as an Innovation Action.
- Other condition
- General Annex B excludes legal entities established in China from Innovation Actions. The specific Work Programme condition additionally excludes entities established in an eligible country but directly or indirectly controlled by China or by a legal entity established in China only where that topic states the critical-technology restriction.
- Other condition
- Horizon Europe projects must focus exclusively on civil applications.
- Other condition
- If the project uses satellite-based Earth-observation, positioning, navigation and/or related timing data or services, beneficiaries must use Copernicus and/or Galileo/EGNOS; other data and services may also be used.
- Other condition
- Where a Type 2 detailed budget is required, estimates may include subcontracting, purchases, and other cost categories per beneficiary/affiliated entity and work package. Subcontracting must cover action tasks and meet the MGA eligibility and best-value/no-conflict conditions; purchases follow the beneficiary’s usual purchasing practices and best value for money or lowest price, with no conflict of interest. These are estimated-cost rules, not separate LS reimbursement promises.
- Other condition
- Other outcomes include IoT/other-sensor integrated redundant navigation particularly at low altitude, mobile-telephony performance requirements/availability to support drone–manned aircraft collision avoidance, and analysis of deployment regulations/privacy/spectrum/international cooperation/harmonisation.
- Other condition
- Expected outcomes include 5G-based PNT systems supported by advanced/AI signal processing as GNSS backups in contested environments, robust against noise/interference and using post-quantum cryptographic measures.
- Other condition
- The call overview indicates around 1 project(s) expected to be funded under this topic. This is a planning estimate, not a guaranteed award count or consortium-size rule.
- Other condition
- The specific topic conditions state that eligible costs take the form of a lump sum under the Horizon Europe lump-sum decision. This is not direct reimbursement of each actual payroll or invoice.
- Other condition
- The call Work Programme specifies lump-sum funding but does not identify its subtype. For project-based Type 2 lump sums, the Commission’s guidance calls for realistic estimates by cost category, beneficiary/affiliated entity, and work package, using costs eligible under the programme’s actual-cost rules, in line with normal practices, reasonable and necessary for the activities. Confirm the subtype in the call’s submission system before treating that Type 2 estimate table as call-specific.
- Other condition
- Public universities (higher education establishments) established in China and administered by or under the supervision of China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology are ineligible to participate in any action under all parts of this Work Programme.
- Other condition
- The granting authority may, for up to four years after the action ends, object to a transfer of ownership or exclusive licensing of results under the specific Annex 5 provision.
- Other condition
- Develop complementary, redundant, secure and resilient alternative PNT methods integrating advanced 5G/6G and IoT for aviation, including UAS, especially as GNSS-loss/degradation fallback in challenging environments; include regulatory impact.
- Other condition
- Address e-conspicuity to improve pilot awareness and reduce general-aviation collision risk at lower U-space altitudes; mobile telephony with minimum network-performance requirements is identified as a potentially safe, affordable option for U-space entry and flight safety.
- Other condition
- The Work Programme expects activity to reach TRL 6–7 by project end. This is an expected range, not a guarantee or a separately imposed funding entitlement.
- Other condition
- The Work Programme allows the responsible Director-General to open the call up to one month before or after its planned opening and to delay its deadline by up to two months. These are call-programme flexibilities, not a claim that a change occurred.
- Other condition
- The Work Programme schedules this call to open 2027-06-03 and sets the deadline as 2027-10-07 at 17:00 Brussels local time.
- Technology readiness level at end, maximum
- 7 TRL
Both endpoints are an expected end-of-project target range, not separate eligibility floors or ceilings. The Work Programme says activities may start at any TRL.
- Technology readiness level at end, minimum
- 6 TRL
Both endpoints are an expected end-of-project target range, not separate eligibility floors or ceilings. The Work Programme says activities may start at any TRL.
Amounts and costs
- Indicative budget
- €5,000,000
Topic budget as stated in the portal's budget table. Lump-sum and per-project limits are in the call conditions.
- Eligible cost limitEligible direct costs in MGA categories A–D, with stated exclusions
- 25 percent of eligible direct costs
The HE MGA flat-rate calculation excludes volunteer costs, subcontracting, financial support to third parties, and exempted specific cost categories. For these topics the grant is a lump sum; this is an underlying estimate/eligibility rule, not a separately reimbursed 25% payment. Operating-grant restrictions may also make indirect costs ineligible under the lump-sum guide.
- Funding intensity, maximumNon-profit legal entity beneficiaries only
- 100 percent of eligible costs per beneficiary
General Annex G permits a rate up to 100% for non-profit Innovation Action beneficiaries. The rate is not an award guarantee and for lump sums is applied through the amount-setting methodology.
- Funding intensity, maximumBeneficiary category under this action type
- 70 percent of eligible costs per beneficiary
General Annex G maximum for this Horizon Europe action type; not an award guarantee. For lump-sum grants, the rate is applied through the amount-setting methodology rather than shown separately in the grant agreement.
- Expected contribution per projectCommission estimated EU contribution for this topic
- €5,000,000
The overview identifies this as an amount around which outcomes could be addressed; different proposal amounts are not precluded. This is not a fixed minimum, maximum, or award guarantee.
- Topic allocationTopic-specific indicative allocation in the 2027 Work Programme call table
- €5,000,000
The Work Programme labels the amount indicative; call footnote says the budget is subject to Union budget appropriations. It is a topic allocation, not a per-beneficiary grant amount.
Personnel and services
Other role
Staff cost the grant can fund
These are cost-category estimate inputs only if this call uses a project-based Type 2 lump-sum detailed budget. The Work Programme only identifies lump-sum funding and does not identify the lump-sum subtype. A role row does not advertise a vacancy, fix a headcount, salary, or hiring entitlement; the lump sum is paid for action implementation, not separately as actual payroll. MGA A.2/A.3 requires assignment to the action, employee-like working conditions, and (unless agreed otherwise) the result belonging to the beneficiary; the calculated rate must correspond to actual costs and not be significantly different from similar employee tasks.
Other role
Staff cost the grant can fund
These are cost-category estimate inputs only if this call uses a project-based Type 2 lump-sum detailed budget. The Work Programme only identifies lump-sum funding and does not identify the lump-sum subtype. A role row does not advertise a vacancy, fix a headcount, salary, or hiring entitlement; the lump sum is paid for action implementation, not separately as actual payroll. Under the HE MGA, employee costs may qualify when the person works for the beneficiary under an employment contract/equivalent appointing act and is assigned to the action; eligible remuneration components and calculation follow Article 6.2 A.1.
Other role
Staff cost the grant can fund
These are cost-category estimate inputs only if this call uses a project-based Type 2 lump-sum detailed budget. The Work Programme only identifies lump-sum funding and does not identify the lump-sum subtype. A role row does not advertise a vacancy, fix a headcount, salary, or hiring entitlement; the lump sum is paid for action implementation, not separately as actual payroll. MGA A.4 permits such action work to be declared as personnel costs only where the person is an SME owner or natural-person beneficiary not receiving a salary and the amount is calculated as the applicable unit cost under Annex 2a.
Source documents
Call facts
- Opens
- 3 Jun 2027
- Deadline model
- Single-stage
- Programme
- Horizon Europe · 2021 - 2027
- Call
- HORIZON-CL5-2027-06 · MOBILITY
- Types of action
- HORIZON Innovation Actions
- Source
- ec.europa.eu
- Checked
- 24 Oct 2026
- Portal updated
- 7 Oct 2026
- Review status
- Partial review
- Reviewed
- 23 Oct 2026
This is a summary of the source page, not the official text. Eligibility, conditions and the submission system are at the source.