General Support Technology Programme (GSTP)

General Support Technology Programme (GSTP) is a technology support and development programme, to which the UK Space Agency committed €83m at the last European Space Agency (ESA) Council of Ministers Meeting in November 2022.

Following on from the highly successful GSTP Information Day, which was held at the Institute of Mechanical Engineers in London on 14th March, guidance notes are now available on the GSTP area of UK Space Agency website. Please ensure that you refer to this documentation before contacting the GSTP Team or submitting a Statement of Interest.

This programme continues to provide support to companies and academic institutions across the UK in developing innovative technologies to grow UK capability. We are keen to engage with start-ups and SMEs (from both within and outside the space sector), as well as established companies and organisations. Collaborative proposals are also welcomed.

To encourage smaller companies and those who are considering working in the space sector we have utilised and engaged in two framework programmes.

1. De-risk framework - This enables companies to apply for an initial activity to de-risk their proposed larger project with a small fully funded activity of up to €200k, which must be delivered within 9 months. On successful completion of the initial activity applications are then permitted for the follow-on activity. This may be delivered in up to two phases and match funding of up to 50% will be required – which is subject to negotiation with the UK Space Agency GSTP team.

2. Building Block framework – This programme is used to prepare and develop enabling capabilities for space related systems and the associated sub-systems. These projects must be completed within 18 months. Enabling applications for support of up to €500k to be made, although the value of the activity can be up to €1m. If the cost of the activity exceeds €500k the shortfall will need to be sourced from elsewhere by the applicant.

In addition to the Element 1 framework programmes there is also the ESA competitive tendering process on ESA STAR. The majority of the ITTs issued on the procurement system are initiated in the GSTP compendia which are issued on a 3 yearly basis.

The latest Compendia was issued in November 2022, containing a total of 143 activities in the Compendia covering 10 Competence Domains, in the following technology areas with an additional EEE Component Compendium being issued in March 2023 containing 13 activities:

Generic Technologies: 86 activities on generic technologies, considering critical elements.

Artificial Intelligence: 21 activities focusing on guidance navigation and control (GNC), on the edge artificial intelligence, and autonomous mission operations. Artificial Intelligence (AI).

Digitalisation: 15 activities aiming at representing all the different elements of a space system digitally, with a particular emphasis on model-based system engineering, simulation, digital spacecraft and data management.

Quantum Technologies: 7 activities that develop the underlying theory, techniques and technologies on quantum processing, that enhances the performance, payload and/or mission planning.

Cybersecurity: 14 activities that address the continuing evolution of the cybersecurity threat-mitigation landscape and the challenges of securing space activities and their ground and space-based assets.

EEE Sovereignty Component: 13 activities focused on key missions and application enabling and high-return key technologies that sit within six technology lines.

Alongside these sit the SOLARIS (Space based solar power) Specific Area of Interest Potential Activities document, which contains a combination of activities some of which will be released this year and others next year (once they have been finalised).

There will be one call this year for the submission of Statements of Interest for these activities. This call closes on 17 April 2023, and supported activities will be added to the UK Space Agency website. Applicants will need to apply through the ESA procurement system ESA STAR once the ITTs are released.

The latest deadline for Non-Compendium activity has now passed – 23 May 2203.  Due to the volume of applications there will be a slight delay in the decision of which activity will be supported. Details will be available from week commencing 12 June 2023.

For any further enquiries contact the GSTP team, at GSTP@ukspaceagency.gov.uk.