{"start":0,"take":1,"total":1,"items":[{"activityNumber":"1000045268","budgetReference":"E/0534-01K - IC1 - Advanced Techn","classified":false,"closingDate":"2026-12-10T13:00:00","extensionRequestDeadline":"2026-11-26T13:00:00","clarificationRequestDeadline":"2026-11-26T13:00:00","description":"Objective: The objective of the activity is to develop a European beamforming chip IP core based on ultra-deep sub-micron technology for satcom constellations. Power consumption shall be minimised. Selectable waveform specific features shall be implemented to support a wide range of use cases including pre-coding and beam hopping. A test chip with compatible interfaces to high speed SerDes (Serialiser/Deserialiser) providing reliable connectivity for high throughput satellites of LEO and MEO constellations shall be designed and manufactured.Targeted Improvements: - Enabling a European or Canadian source of digital beamforming IP core for active phased array antennas.- Enabling features such as signal structure, beam hopping and precoding.- Minimised power consumption of less than 300mW per channel.Description: Due to the demand for large capacity and high spectral efficiencies, active array antennas are being increasingly employed for telecom satellites. These antennas are already playing an important role in next-generation high throughput satellite (HTS) communications together with the large low Earth orbit (LEO) and medium Earth orbit (MEO) constellations being implemented worldwide. Digital Beamforming (DBF) is considered the most flexible beamforming architecture and has advantages over analogue beamforming for receiving and transmitting wideband signals, and for multi-beam reconfigurable applications. However, it requires data converters and RF front-ends for each antenna element, increasing the complexity and power consumption.In this activity, a digital beamforming IP core will be developed, fabricated as a scaled Engineering Model test chip and tested based on ultra sub-micron technology (targeting 7nm or lower). Power consumption shall be minimised, targeting 300mW per channel. Selectable waveform specific features shall be implemented to support a wide range of use casesincluding pre-coding and beam hopping. The IP core shall enable Beamforming Networks with a total bandwidth scalable from GHz to hundreds of GHz for dynamic beam configuration, to achieve a BFIC of 32 GHz capacity with scalable frequency from L-Band to Ka-Band and frequency agnostic topology.This activity will be implemented in a phased approach where:- Phase 1 includes a comparative architectural study of at least four digital beam forming IC integration models. An evaluation of technology node implications shall be performed (e.g. leading-edge vs. trailing-edge). Phase 1 shall explore if a common architecture could support different use-cases (broadband, D2D) e.g. lowering DAC/ADC sampling rates and smart switching (bypassing digital mixing, decimation/interpolation) to maintain beam count while adjusting per-beam bandwidth. A system topology shall be evaluated and defined from the digital processor to the antenna for the placement of the beamforming network (daisy chain, star etc.). The output of Phase 1 is an evaluation of the critical IP blocks via design simulation concluding with tape-out of the design. Phase 1 budget is up to 1,200kEur.- In Phase 2 the architecture and technology for the beamforming chip IP shall be fully designed, implemented and tested to scaled engineering model level. This test chip will be representative of a scaled version of the final potential product. Scaled EM testing will include radiation exposure, thermal cycling, and performance benchmarking against existing space-grade beamforming chips.IP cores developed in this activity shall be available for further development by ESA Member State and Canadian industries at fair and reasonable market conditions.","ecosrequired":true,"establishment":"ESTEC","firstPublicationDate":"2026-03-18T09:01:18","id":183830,"idEra":24786,"initiatingService":"RNC-FTS","ipmeasure":"N/A","isArchived":false,"isCancelled":false,"isReissued":false,"isToBeReissued":false,"issueQuarter":"264","lastUpdateTime":"2026-10-14T16:47:55","lastUpdateUser":"sapancot","openDate":"2026-10-14T16:47:50","priceRange":"> 500 KEURO","programmeReference":"IC1 - Advanced Techn","tanumber":"1-13365","title":"EUROPEAN ULTRA-DEEP SUB-MICRON BEAMFORMING CHIP IP CORE FOR SATCOM CONSTELLATIONS (ARTES AT 5C.539)","directorate":null,"countries":[{"id":1},{"id":168},{"id":67},{"id":62},{"id":26},{"id":24},{"id":23},{"id":22},{"id":19},{"id":17},{"id":16},{"id":13},{"id":12},{"id":11},{"id":10},{"id":9},{"id":7},{"id":6},{"id":5},{"id":2},{"id":15},{"id":4}],"products":[{"id":377}],"technologies":[{"id":195}],"status":{"id":2},"tenderType":{"id":5},"isFavourite":false,"eraVersion":1,"stageNumber":null,"isNew":false,"isUpdated":false,"declarationOfCompliances":["With regard to the technical requirements of the ITT/RFQ, the tender is","With regard to the requirement that the “consortium structure” in esa-star mirrors the Proposed Project Team in the Cover Letter, the tender is","With regard to the requirements in ESA’s Policy on the Prevention, Detection and Investigation of Fraud (special reference is made to paragraph 5.8), the tenderer is","With regard to the Agency’s “Right to Audit” (see Part 2, section 2.2.8 of the ESA Tender Conditions), the tender is","With regard to the export/import requirements of the ITT (please refer to the Proposal Template, Section 6.4), the tender is","With regard to the IPR requirements of the ITT (please refer to the Draft Contract and to the Proposal Template, Section 6.2), the tender is","With regard to the Contract conditions of the ITT (please refer to the Draft Contract and to the Proposal Template, Section 6.1), the tender is","With regard to the financial requirements of the ITT/RFQ, the tender is","With regard to the managerial requirements of the ITT/RFQ, the tender is","The technical proposal is free from any plagiarism. When use is made of material being quotations or citations from existing public literature, such use is clearly indicated and due reference indications (source and author) are provided.","With regard to the validity period of four (4) months from the date of tender submission with implicit extensions as per Article 27, paragraphs 3 & 4 of the Contracting Regulations ESA/REG/001, the tender is"],"keyAcceptanceFactors":["Supporting evidence of the authorisation of funding from the relevant Participating State(s) is provided as part of the tender cover letter and in accordance with the requirements of section 2.4 of the Cover letter to the present ITT.","The Tenderer satisfies the qualification requirements established under Article 12. Paragraphs 1 and 2 of the Contracting Regulations. The Tenderer further certifies that it, and when applicable any of its subcontractors, does not fall under any of the exclusions laid down in the Contracting Regulations under Article 12, paragraphs 3 and 14.","The Tenderer confirms, on its behalf and on behalf of its Subcontractor(s), to be compliant with the requirements listed in the “Certification of free competition” (see section 2.2.3 of the ESA Tender Conditions).","The Tenderer confirms, on its behalf and on behalf of its Subcontractors, the acceptance of the conditions listed in the “Non commitment by the Agency” (seesection 2.2.12 of the ESA Tender Conditions ).","The Tenderer confirms, on its behalf and on behalf of its Subcontractors, to be compliant with the requirements listed in the “Certification of non-benefit” (see section 2.2.4 of the ESA Tender Conditions ).","The tender Cover Letter and the tender contain a binding price.","The tender contains a technical description.","The tender Cover Letter and the tender contain a price type compliant with the one requested in the ITT.","The tender is compliant with the budgetary limit(s) applicable to the tender.","The Proposal includes the three (3) mandatory elements for Phase 2 of the activity"],"evaluationCriterias":[{"criterion":"Understanding of the scope, capability to implement and motivation and benefit to carry out the Optional Phase 2 of the activity","weightingFactor":"20%"},{"criterion":"Compliance with administrative tender conditions and acceptance of Contract conditions.","weightingFactor":"10%"},{"criterion":"Adequacy of planning, management and costing  for the execution of the work.","weightingFactor":"10%"},{"criterion":"Quality and suitability of proposed programme of work; adequacy of engineering approach.","weightingFactor":"25%"},{"criterion":"Understanding of the requirements and objectives and discussion of problem areas.","weightingFactor":"25%"},{"criterion":"Background and experience (related to the particular field concerned) of the companies and staff, including adequacy of proposed facilities.","weightingFactor":"10%"}],"entities":[],"procurementProposal":null,"responsible":"Giusy Menghini","updateReason":"Tender Action Issued"}],"totalNew":0,"totalUpdated":0}