The European Space Agency (ESA) has announced a new funding opportunity aimed at strengthening wildfire preparedness through innovative space-enabled technologies.
The call will officially open on 1 September 2026 as part of ESA’s wider Wildfire Safety initiative.
The new programme follows the completion of ESA’s Wildfire Response call, which closed on 2 June 2026 after seeking solutions focused on early fire detection, near real-time monitoring and wildfire behaviour modelling.
The latest round shifts attention towards preventing fires before they start and reducing their potential impact.
ESA is inviting businesses and technology developers to propose commercially viable services that combine satellite capabilities with innovative applications for wildfire risk assessment, fuel management and long-term resilience.
Selected projects will receive funding, technical support and access to ESA’s commercial network to help bring new solutions to market.
Growing need for wildfire preparedness across Europe
The launch comes as Europe experiences increasingly severe wildfire seasons. While fire has long been a natural part of many ecosystems, recent years have seen larger and more destructive events across the Southern Mediterranean, as well as parts of Central and Eastern Europe.
According to data from the European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS), the average area burned in European Union member states during 2025 was more than twice the average recorded between 2006 and 2024.
Rising temperatures, prolonged dry conditions and expanding urban developments near forests have all contributed to increasing wildfire risk.
The expansion of the urban-forest interface has created more locations where homes, infrastructure and vegetation exist in close proximity, increasing both the likelihood of wildfire ignition and the scale of potential damage.
Beyond the immediate destruction of forests and property, wildfires can have lasting economic and environmental consequences. Tourism, agriculture and local businesses often suffer significant disruption, while rural communities may face long-term decline.
Smoke generated by burning vegetation also releases pollutants that affect air quality and public health.
Space technology at the centre of prevention
Unlike the previous call, which concentrated on emergency response, the new wildfire preparedness programme is focused on reducing risk before fires occur.
ESA is looking for proposals that make meaningful use of satellite technology to improve prevention strategies and decision-making.
Potential applications include Earth observation data for mapping vegetation health, identifying burn scars, assessing wildfire risk and monitoring vulnerable infrastructure.
Satellite positioning technologies can support drones and aircraft involved in vegetation surveys, while satellite communications can connect remote sensor networks and improve data sharing across large geographical areas.
By integrating these capabilities with terrestrial technologies, organisations can develop more accurate and timely information for authorities responsible for managing wildfire risk.
What ESA is looking for
The agency is encouraging companies with strong technical and commercial expertise to submit proposals that demonstrate both innovation and market potential.
Successful concepts should clearly identify customer needs, present a realistic route to commercial deployment and show how space data or space-based technologies provide a distinct advantage over conventional approaches.
ESA is particularly interested in services capable of supporting wildfire risk assessment, fuel load management and preventative or adaptive measures that strengthen resilience before wildfire events occur.
Funding and eligibility
Successful applicants can receive zero-equity funding covering between 50% and 80% of eligible project costs, depending on SME status and approval from the relevant ESA member state.
Participants will also benefit from technical and commercial guidance, access to ESA’s partner network and the credibility associated with developing solutions under the ESA programme.
The opportunity is open to organisations intending to develop space-enabled products or services related to wildfire management.
Eligible teams must be based in one of several participating countries, including the United Kingdom, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, Switzerland, Canada and a number of other ESA partner nations.
Companies planning to apply are advised to engage with their national ESA delegation early, as written authorisation for funding is required before submitting a full proposal.
With extreme wildfire events becoming increasingly common across Europe, ESA’s latest initiative aims to accelerate innovation that helps authorities move beyond emergency response and strengthen wildfire preparedness through advanced space-enabled technologies.
