The Electric Propulsion Innovation & Competitiveness 2.0 (EPIC2) project aims to complete the activities initiated by the project EPIC (640199) in line with the objectives of the Horizon 2020 Work Programme 2018-2020 (5.iii. Leadership in Enabling and Industrial Technologies - Space) provisions in the frame of the Programme Support Activity (PSA), for the implementation of the Electric Propulsion technology Strategic Research Cluster (SRC) in Horizon 2020. The PSA consortium will ensure the coordination and necessary exchange of information and knowledge between the different SRC Operational Grants within the Electric Propulsion SRC by providing: • Assessment of the various activities and results of the respective SRC Operational Grants in support to REA. • Update of the master plan, as needed, to coordinate all the activities for the duration of the respective SRC Operational Grants. • Identification of the activities required to address the challenge of the respective topics. • Coherence of actions

The project GLOCS3 (GLObally Competitive Space Systems Support) aims to provide the appropriate support and coordination for the European space systems supply chain stakeholders consultations and all other relevant activities supporting the initial setup and proper execution of the Globally Competitive Space Systems co-programmed Partnership (GSSC, or 'the Partnership'), and providing material support for the initial setup and operations of the private sector stakeholder association (SPACE AISBL) and its founding members. GLOCS3 will create the conditions and provide the resources to establish and implement coordinated consultation processes enabling the European space supply chain stakeholder communities to express their views and enable them to configure the inputs that the project will provide to the European Commission and related institutional stakeholders in the framework of the Partnership. The overarching goal of the project is to enable the European Commission, via the Partnership, to gather a consolidated and consensual opinion from the space supply chain stakeholder communities with a view to configure the contents of the Horizon Europe Work Programme 2025-2027 and plan its R&I strategy for the areas covered by the Partnership in consideration of the coordinated viewpoints of the stakeholders. The project will thus focus first and foremost on the organisation of suitable stakeholder consultation processes, adapted to the areas of the consultations and the domains concerned by the partnership. The project will also support the key reporting requirements of SPACE AISBL towards the Partnership, notably the elaboration of the additional activities periodic reports.

EPIC proposes a Programme Support Activity which will produce a clear integrated roadmap & masterplan for its implementation through a Strategic Research Cluster (SRC) on In-space Electrical Propulsion & Station-Keeping. EPIC plans to do a survey of the current worldwide Electric Propulsion (& related) technologies & their TRL. A collection of requirements from all stakeholders will be done, also assessing potential future missions. Both tasks will build on the 2014 EP Harmonisation & the consultation will be expanded to all EU actors. This will allow to focus efforts on the SRC roadmap’ specific goals. Based on this work, a critical gap analysis of technologies & needs will be done, to create the basis for selection of candidate SRC developments, oriented to satisfy short-term (incremental advances) & medium/long term (disruptive) needs. Then the prioritisation will be the driver & challenge, leading to the selection of activities for an SRC roadmap & masterplan for its implementation, aiming at a validati

While significant effort has been and is being provided to address planetary protection in the context of inner Solar System exploration, and in particular Mars, PPOSS will allow tackling the scientific, technological and policy-making specifics of Planetary Protection (biological and organic contamination) of outer solar system bodies, including small solar system bodies. Through an intensive three year programme, the project will nurture and catalyse discussions, analysis, exchange of knowledge and definition of strategic science and policy recommendations, therefore allowing a leap in the understanding of biological and organic contamination in the frame of outer solar system bodies’ exploration. PPOSS intends to consider and delineate the state of the art, identify lessons to be learnt and good practices in planetary protection. Looking forward, PPOSS will identify scientific challenges and knowledge gaps as well as define scientific requirement for outer Solar system bodies planetary protection. PPOSS will also involve interactions with the European industry and will develop as set of European industry roadmaps. Eventually PPOSS will use and integrate the information and knowledge produced through the project to provide science and policy recommendations for the definition, improvement, and implementation of an adequate planetary protection policy for outer Solar system bodies. PPOSS will also be very active on dissemination and exchange of Planetary Protection-related knowledge and know-how. PPOSS will bring in four international partners from three non-European countries (Japan, China and Russia) as well as one observer from US. Participating in the project implementation (they will be part of the Steering Committee) and involving their experts, these organisations will enrich and extend the scope of the project, making it a true international initiative. PPOSS will last 3 years but COSPAR will be maintain and update its main outputs beyond its lifetime