Arctic Phi-Lab · Open Call · Idea stage
Call for Ideas
Tell us what you would build with space data and space technology to meet an Arctic need. At this stage we ask for a short idea outline, not a full proposal — and we will tell you whether it fits before you invest in writing one.
Deadline
What we need from you
Focus areas
who can apply
01 — 04
The four focus areas
An idea should sit clearly inside one of these. If it spans two, say so in the outline and pick the one that carries most of the work.
01
Resilient connectivity and PNT at high latitudes
Communications and positioning that hold up above 70°N, where geostationary links sit low on the horizon and the ionsphere is at its most disturbed.
Leo satcom
GNSS augmentation
alternative pnt
Space weather
02
Earth observation for Arctic environmental and maritime monitoring
Turning satelite data into services for waters that are changing fast and getting busier. – ice, spills, blooms, coastlines and vessel traffic, through cloud and polar weather.
sentinel-1 SAR
Copernicus
AIS Fusion
Near-real-time
03
Preparedness and infrastructure resilience
Situational awareness where distances are long, infrastructure is thin and response recources are few – before, during and after an incident.
INSAR
Rapid mapping
Permafrost
Digital twins
04
Upstream hardware and onboard systems for Arctic-relevant space missions
Payloads, buses and onboard software designed for polar orbit rather than adapted to it: short contact windows, radiation, cold, power, and processing before downlink.
Smallsat playloads
Onboard AI
RAD-tolerant
otical links
How it works
From idea to proposal
Do step 2 no later than 4–6 weeks before the submission deadline.
1
Read the focus areas
Check which area your idea belongs to and what we consider in scope. An optional info session walks through the call live — dates go out by newsletter.
2
Send a short idea outline
A page or two: the Arctic need, what you would build, and who you are. No full proposal, no budget breakdown at this stage.
3
Get feedback from us
We tell you how the idea sits against the call, point you to the right partner expertise, and help you scope it before you write.
4
Submit a full proposal
If it fits, take it into the open call: Research Proposal Application, submitted before the deadline, then evaluation by the Arctic Phi-Lab board.
Got an idea? Let us get in touch with you
Leave your email and we will come back to you with the next steps and the info session date.
Who can apply
Enterprises, research organisations and startups — legal entities or consortiums registered in Norway, or delivering a clear benefit to Norway.
Startups
SMEs & industry
research institutes
university groups
Public sector
international teams