: The 2023-2024 work programme of the ‘Digital, Industry and Space’ Cluster of Horizon Europe aims to shape competitive and trusted technologies for a European Union industry with global leadership in key areas; to enable production and consumption respecting the boundaries of our planet and to maximize the benefits for all parts of society in the variety of social, economic and territorial contexts in Europe. The Cluster is divided into six destinations, each of which is divided into several calls for proposals. Destination 1: Climate neutral, Circular and Digitised Production, Destination 2: Increased Autonomy in Key Strategic Value Chains for Resilient Industry, Destination 3: World-leading Data and Computing Technologies, Destination 4: Digital & Emerging Technologies for Competitiveness and Fit for the Green Deal, Destination 5: Open Strategic Autonomy in Developing, Deploying and Using Global Space-Based Infrastructures, Services, Applications and Data, and Destination 6: A human-centred and ethical development of digital and industrial technologies. The overall budget for the Cluster is 2.7 billion euros. The calls for proposals focus on topics such as the twin green and digital transition, the diversification of the international supplier chain, the circular economy, artificial intelligence, cloud computing, Internet of Things, cybersecurity, big data, robotics, quantum technologies, the European Green Deal, the European space programme, Egnos, Galileo, Copernicus, and the Cassini programme. Deadlines for the calls range from 8 December 2022 to 19 March 2024.

The European Union has approved the IRIS2 programme, a multi-orbital satellite constellation that will provide secure, better and high-speed satellite connectivity for the entire Old Continent. The programme is part of the Union Secure Connectivity 2023-2027 initiative, created in response to the growing need for secure and resilient global connectivity in light of the gradual digitization of the economy and multiple cybersecurity threats. It will provide government services covering from critical infrastructure protection and situational awareness to support for external actions and crisis management. The total cost of the programme will be 2.4 billion euros, part of which will come from the EU space programme, Horizon Europe, and the Global Europe Neighborhood Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI). The funding will come from the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2021-2027. The European Executive will own the tangible and intangible assets related to the government infrastructure developed under the Union secure connectivity programme, with contracts awarded to industry through competitive bidding. The programme will be implemented in collaboration with the European Space Agency and the community industry sector.

The European Union has launched two calls for expressions of interest in the In-Orbit Demonstration and Validation (IOD/IOV) service, which enables the testing of new technologies in orbit. The first call is for 'IOD/IOV experiments', which are innovative technologies, products, ideas, designs and operational techniques that require demonstration/validation in orbit. The second call is for 'Ready to Fly' IOD/IOV satellites, which are launchers with a payload or set of payloads that require on-orbit demonstration/validation. The calls are open to any legal entity established in one of the EU member states, including overseas countries and territories, in one of the countries associated with or joining the Horizon Europe programme. The calls have six cut-off dates, with the last one being 15 March 2026. The expressions of interest are a preparatory step for the launch of the 'Flight Ticket Initiative', a joint initiative between the European Commission and the European Space Agency (ESA). This initiative will stimulate new European launcher systems and solutions, provide affordable launch service opportunities for European 'Ready to Fly' IOD/IOV satellites, and support the emergence of affordable and responsive launch services for other EU IOD/IOV missions and EU institutional missions. The IOD/IOV service is part of the CASSINI programme, one of the pillars of space research activities under Horizon Europe. The programme supports space enterprises in the EU, and fosters the development of EU scientific excellence by promoting universities and research institutes. It also fosters the competitiveness of the European space sector, supports the EU's independence from other global competitors, and aims to get European engineers hands-on experience in space programmes.

The Pact for Skills has launched a large-scale Skills Partnership in the space sector to complement the existing Skills Partnership on aerospace and defence. This new partnership aims to promote collaboration between the space industry, training centres, academia and other partners, attract young professionals, develop new and existing regional initiatives, and contribute to other training programmes such as the Copernicus Academies, Copernicus Relays and other activities performed under the CASSINI initiative. The space downstream market is expected to reach revenues of over 80 billion euros by 2030, and this Skills Partnership contributes to the European Year of Skills and the EU headline target that by 2030, at least 60% of all adults should participate in training every year. The EU Space Strategy for Security and Defence has different goals, such as protecting EU’s space assets, defending its interests, deterring hostile activities in space, and strengthening its strategic posture and autonomy. It involves a shared understanding of space threats, resilience and protection of space systems and services in the EU, responding to space threats, using space for security and defence, and partnering for responsible behaviours in space. The Pact for Skills is a flagship action of the European Skills Agenda, which aims to support public and private organisations with upskilling and reskilling, so they can thrive through the green and digital transitions. It provides members with knowledge on upskilling and reskilling needs, advice on relevant funding instruments, and partnership opportunities.