Maltese businesses, research institutions and other eligible organisations will have a new opportunity to pursue space-related innovation projects as the fifth call under Malta’s participation in the European Space Agency (ESA) Plan for European Cooperating States (PECS) programme opens on 2nd November 2026.

The ESA PECS MT5 Call will provide Maltese entities with opportunities to develop innovative projects in collaboration with ESA across a range of space-related domains, while contributing to the development of national expertise and capabilities within the sector.

The initiative forms part of Malta’s participation in the PECS programme, which aims to strengthen the country’s involvement in European space activities and support its potential future participation in ESA programmes.

Strengthening Malta’s Space Innovation Capabilities

The fifth call is intended to encourage Maltese organisations to explore opportunities in space-related research, technology and innovation.

Through collaboration with ESA, participating entities will have the opportunity to develop projects that contribute to Malta’s growing capabilities in the space sector.

The programme is particularly relevant to businesses and research institutions seeking to expand their activities into specialised technological fields and establish experience within the European space industry.

Eligible applicants include companies, research institutions, public entities and other organisations interested in pursuing space-related projects.

Beyond supporting individual initiatives, the programme seeks to strengthen Malta’s broader research and innovation ecosystem by encouraging the development of expertise that could facilitate future participation in ESA activities.

Free Proposal Writing Support Available For The First Time

A new development introduced under the fifth call is the ESA Proposal Writing Support Service, which will be available to applicants free of charge.

The service is designed to assist both first-time and experienced applicants in preparing their project proposals.

By providing additional support during the application process, the initiative aims to help interested organisations develop their submissions and better navigate the requirements of the call.

The introduction of the service represents an additional resource for Maltese entities considering participation in ESA-related projects.

Applications Open On 2nd November

The ESA PECS MT5 Call will open on 2nd November 2026, with the submission deadline set for 14th December 2026 at 13:00 CET.

Interested organisations are encouraged to begin preparing their proposals ahead of the opening date to allow sufficient time for project development and submission.

The call is open to eligible businesses, research institutions, public entities and other stakeholders seeking opportunities to engage in space-related research and innovation.

Supporting Malta’s Participation In European Space Programmes

The fifth ESA PECS call represents another opportunity for Malta to strengthen its presence within the European space sector.

By enabling local organisations to collaborate with ESA, the programme aims to support knowledge development, technological innovation and the establishment of capabilities that could contribute to Malta’s future participation in European space initiatives.

For Maltese businesses and research institutions, the call provides a potential pathway to explore new areas of technological development while gaining experience in internationally focused research and innovation projects.