Guidance

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

Details on funding opportunities from the UK Space Agency, the space sector, academic, education and community partners.

From:
UK Space Agency
Published
30 April 2014
Last updated
145 JulyAugust 2022 — See all updates

Open opportunities

ARTESNavigation UKInnovation National Delegate Support Programme (NavISP)

Funding type: Research, innovation and development
Who can apply: UK companiesorganisations lookingworking toin developpositioning, technologies,navigation productsand timing undertaking technology research and servicesdevelopment infocused telecommunicationson commercial innovation.
Funding: UpVaries: to100% €10,000,000.funding Nofor upperdeveloping orearly lowertechnologies limitand hasinnovations; beentypically setbetween €200,000 and €800,000 for individualspace-enabled projectspositioning, navigation and timing (PNT) technology solutions and innovations.
Deadline: 14Open Julyuntil 2022further notice

TheSince 2017, the UK Spacehas Agencyinvested is€50 invitingmillion applicationsinto forNavISP UKto support the UK space PNT sector to innovate the Europeannext Spacegeneration Agency’sof Advancedspace-enabled Researchand inspace-supported Telecommunicationsnavigation Systemsproducts, (ARTES)services Competitiveness and Growthapplications.

The UK investment in the programme fromis UKavailable companiesto lookingsupport UK organisations to developundertake technologies,technology productsresearch and servicesdevelopment infocused telecommunications.on commercial innovation.

See the ARTESNavISP callannouncement forof applicationsopportunity to find out how to apply. Find out more about the ARTESNavISP programme.

EnablingStudent Spacesupport: ExplorationESA microgravity programmes

Funding type: Research, innovation and development
Who can apply: UKUK-based organisationsteams workingsuccessfully onselected projectsby toESA developfor thecertain capabilitystudent ofsupport the UK in space explorationprogrammes
Funding: Varies: Up to £1 million is available. 3-5 projects are expected to be funded up to £200,000 each£5,000
Deadline: 29Open Julyuntil 2022further notice

ProposalsThis areannouncement sought for projects to develop the capability of theopportunity UKoffers inup spaceto exploration£5,000 and(if positionavailable) the UK to participatesupport in,students andparticipating benefitin from,European futureSpace spaceAgency explorationmicrogravity missions.programmes.

See the Enablingannouncement Spaceof Exploration callopportunity to find out how to apply.

Closed opportunities

These funding opportunities are not currently open to applicants.

MicrogravityARTES ExperimentsUK National Delegate Support Programme

Funding type: Research, innovation and development
Who can apply: UK organisationscompanies workinglooking onto ideasdevelop fortechnologies, experimentsproducts for development and flightservices onin the International Space Station
telecommunications Funding: Varies: Up to £3€10,000,000. millionNo isupper available.or 1-3lower projectslimit arehas expectedbeen toset befor fundedindividual projects
Deadline: 2914 July 2022

The UK Space Agency announcesis aninviting opportunityapplications offor aUK two-stagesupport competitionto forthe ideasEuropean forSpace experimentsAgency’s forAdvanced developmentResearch in Telecommunications Systems (ARTES) Competitiveness and flightGrowth onprogramme thefrom InternationalUK Spacecompanies Station.looking to develop technologies, products and services in telecommunications.

See the MicrogravityARTES Experiments call for applications to find out how to apply. Find out more about the ARTES programme.

NavigationEnabling InnovationSpace Support Programme (NavISP)Exploration

Funding type: Research, innovation and development
Who can apply: UK organisations working inon positioning,projects navigationto anddevelop timingthe undertakingcapability technologyof researchthe andUK developmentin focusedspace on commercial innovation.exploration
Funding: Varies: 100%Up fundingto for£1 developingmillion earlyis technologiesavailable. and3-5 innovations;projects typicallyare betweenexpected €200,000to andbe €800,000funded forup space-enabledto positioning,£200,000 navigation and timing (PNT) technology solutions and innovations.each
Deadline: Open29 untilJuly further notice2022

SinceProposals 2017,are thesought UKfor hasprojects invested €50 million into NavISP to supportdevelop the UKcapability spaceof PNT sector to innovate the nextUK generationin ofspace space-enabledexploration and space-supportedposition navigation products, services and applications.

The UK investment in the programme is available to support UK organisations to undertakeparticipate technologyin, research and developmentbenefit focusedfrom, onfuture commercialspace innovation.exploration missions.

See the NavISPEnabling announcementSpace ofExploration opportunitycall to find out how to apply. Find out more about the NavISP programme.

StudentMicrogravity support: ESA microgravity programmesExperiments

Funding type: Research, innovation and development
Who can apply: UK-basedUK teamsorganisations successfullyworking selectedon byideas ESAfor experiments for certaindevelopment studentand supportflight programmeson the International Space Station
Funding: Varies: Up to £5,000£3 million is available. 1-3 projects are expected to be funded
Deadline: Open29 untilJuly further notice2022

ThisThe announcementUK ofSpace Agency announces an opportunity offersof upa totwo-stage £5,000competition (iffor available)ideas tofor supportexperiments studentsfor participatingdevelopment inand Europeanflight Spaceon Agencythe microgravityInternational programmes.Space Station.

See the announcementMicrogravity ofExperiments opportunitycall to find out how to apply.

Closed opportunities

These funding opportunities are not currently open to applicants.

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
Closed: 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.

See the 2022 Exploration Science Announcement of Opportunity to find out how to apply.

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)
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)
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)
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

Published 30 April 2014
Last updated 145 JulyAugust 2022 + show all updates

  1. Updated funding opportunities August 2022.

  2. Closed announcement of opportunity.

  3. Added Enabling Space Exploration and Microgravity Experiments calls.

  4. Added 2022 Exploration Science Announcement of Opportunity and Support for Student Teams selected for ESA Microgravity Student programmes Announcement of Opportunity

  5. ARTES call for applications opened.

  6. Opened NavISP opportunity.

  7. Exploration Science Microgravity grant opportunity has closed.

  8. Updated with relevant information.

  9. Updated information.

  10. New announcement of opportunity added. Funding support for students selected for ESA microgravity programmes.

  11. Space Placements in Industry (SPIN) funding opportunity added.

  12. Page updated to reflect new space for all grant call.

  13. Dated content removed and updated with a link to the latest Space for All grant call.

  14. Calls for proposals are no longer available

  15. The 2018 space call in Horizon 2020 has been published. Information added to page.

  16. Case study document attached

  17. Space for All guidance updated

  18. IPP Finance Form added

  19. National Space Technology Programme announcement of opportunity published.

  20. Attachments inserted

  21. Space for All community grant scheme updated. New round of funding announced.

  22. Update to National Space Technology Programme funding information.

  23. International Space University (ISU) – Scholarship Scheme information added.

  24. Space for Smarter Government Programme call for proposals information added.

  25. Space for All small awards scheme documents updated.

  26. National Space Technology Programme funding round two, call for space technology proposals information added.

  27. Announcement of the second round of the National Space Technology Programme funding added.

  28. Aurora outreach announcement of opportunity, guidance and application form.

  29. First published.

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