Apply for funding: space-related R&D, innovation and education

Open opportunities

Exploration Science Announcement of Opportunity

Funding type: Research, innovation and development
Who can apply: Academics from the UK or overseas, working at UK research organisations
Funding: Please see details under ‘Award Value’ in application documents
Deadline: 7 July 2022

The UK is a leading investor in the European Space Agency’s Exploration Programme and the UK Space Agency is committed to securing the maximum benefits from this investment. This funding is available to:

• support science and research that uses data from Mars exploration missions or underpins future Mars exploration missions.
• support scientists selected for groups and/or science teams, campaign science groups and other definition work related to Exploration missions.

ARTES UK National Delegate Support Programme

Funding type: Research, innovation and development
Who can apply: UK companies looking to develop technologies, products and services in telecommunications Funding: Up to €10,000,000. No upper or lower limit has been set for individual projects
Deadline: 14 July 2022

The UK Space Agency is inviting applications for UK support to the European Space Agency’s Advanced Research in Telecommunications Systems (ARTES) Competitiveness and Growth programme from UK companies looking to develop technologies, products and services in telecommunications.

Enabling Space Exploration

Funding type: Research, innovation and development
Who can apply: UK organisations working on projects to develop the capability of the UK in space exploration
Funding: Varies: Up to £1 million is available. 3-5 projects are expected to be funded up to £200,000 each
Deadline: 29 July 2022

Proposals are sought for projects to develop the capability of the UK in space exploration and position the UK to participate in, and benefit from, future space exploration missions.

Microgravity Experiments

Funding type: Research, innovation and development
Who can apply: UK organisations working on ideas for experiments for development and flight on the International Space Station
Funding: Varies: Up to £3 million is available. 1-3 projects are expected to be funded
Deadline: 29 July 2022

The UK Space Agency announces an opportunity of a two-stage competition for ideas for experiments for development and flight on the International Space Station.

Navigation Innovation Support Programme (NavISP)

Funding type: Research, innovation and development
Who can apply: UK organisations working in positioning, navigation and timing undertaking technology research and development focused on commercial innovation.
Funding: Varies: 100% funding for developing early technologies and innovations; typically between €200,000 and €800,000 for space-enabled positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) technology solutions and innovations.
Deadline: Open until further notice

Since 2017, the UK has invested €50 million into NavISP to support the UK space PNT sector to innovate the next generation of space-enabled and space-supported navigation products, services and applications.

The UK investment in the programme is available to support UK organisations to undertake technology research and development focused on commercial innovation.

Student support: ESA microgravity programmes

Funding type: Research, innovation and development
Who can apply: UK-based teams successfully selected by ESA for certain student support programmes
Funding: Up to £5,000
Deadline: Open until further notice

This announcement of opportunity offers up to £5,000 (if available) to support students participating in European Space Agency microgravity programmes.

Closed opportunities

These funding opportunities are not currently open to applicants.

Exploration Science Microgravity grant

Funding type: Academic research grant
Who can apply: UK based researchers with facility access to microgravity/space environments research platforms
Funding: Up to £5,000 per grant (see announcement)
Deadline:Closed: 11 April 2022

This UK Space Agency grant supports the preparation of experiments that use microgravity and other space environment research platforms.

Space Placements in Industry (SPIN)

Funding type: Work placement support
Who can apply: Organisations offering a work placement
Funding: Up to £3,000 per award (fund of at least £75,000)
Deadline:Closed: 1 April 2022

SPIN offers grants of up to £3,000 for organisations to take on graduate or postgraduate students for work placements in the space industry. Learn more about the Space Placements in Industry (SPIN): Award scheme 2022, including eligibility, project suitability, how to apply and more.

Space for All community award scheme

Funding type: Education projects
Who can apply: Academic and research institutions, charitites, trusts and companies, and individuals sponsored by one of these
Funding: Grants of up to £10k (from at least £65k total fund)
Deadline:Closed: 18 February 2022

The Space for All community award scheme makes grants of up to £10,000 available for winning proposals for educational projects that capitalise on the inspirational value of space. The deadline for proposals for the 2022 scheme was 18 February.

National Space Technology Programme

Funding type: Tech development
Who can apply: Businesses operating in the UK space and related sectors
Funding: Varies, see guidance
Deadline: Not currently open to applications

This programme makes funding opportunities available for early-stage technology development projects that help to grow the UK’s space sector and capability. Read more about the National Space Technology Programme.

National Space Innovation Programme

Funding type: Research and innovation
Who can apply: UK organisations that can demonstrate a high probabiliity of success meeting the aims of a qualifying opportunity
Funding: Maximum £2m per project from a £10m fund
Deadline: Not currently open to applications

This programme supports the development of innovative products, services and technologies that have application in the space sector. Read more about the National Space Innovation Programme

International Partnership Programme

Funding type: Innovation and sustainable development
Who can apply: Organisations who can deliver a project that delivers a sustainable satellite-enabled solution to partners in a developing country
Funding: Up to £8m per project, from a total fund of over £30m per year
Deadline: Not currently open to applications

The International Partnership Programme is a £150m initiative that makes use of the UK space sector’s research and innovation strengths to provide sustainable economic, societal or environmental benefits to emerging and developing economies around the world. It launched in 2016.

Find out more about the International Partnership Programme.

*[NavISP] Navigation Innovation Support Programme *[PNT] Positioning, navigation and timing