Guidance

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

Details on open 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
1811 AugustJuly 2023 — See all updates

ARTES ESA Workplan Activity: 6G Satellite Precursor Invitation To Tender (ARTES 5G/6G SPL 3E.011)

Funding type: Research, innovation and development

Who can apply: UK organisations and companies (UK Space Agency and ESA approval required)

Proposed ESA Budget: €8,000,000, with National Delegate support at up to 100% funding.

Deadline (UK Space Agency): 5pm on 26 June 2023

Deadline (ESA): midday on 14 July 2023

This is an ESA-initiated programme offering up to 100% funding. Find further information on this Invitation To Tender (ITT) on the ESA website.

As part of the application process, companies will need to apply to the UK Space Agency for approval before they submit their final application. This is a three-stage application process, in which:

The UK Space Agency reserves the right to apply additional requirements to any supported ITT. We will notify you once you have registered your interest, if applicable.

Space Exploration Advisory Committee Call for Membership Nominations 2023

Who can apply: Academics and early careers researchers

Deadline: 4pm on Monday 31 July 2023

The UK Space Agency seeks nominations for membership of its Space Exploration Advisory Committee (SEAC). The SEAC is responsible for advising the Agency on matters relating to robotic and human space exploration programmes.

See the guidance page for details on how to apply.

General Support Technology Programme (GSTP)

Funding type: Research, innovation, and development

Who can apply: UK organisations and companies (UK Space Agency and ESA approval required)

Deadline: 5pm on 15 August 2023

The UK Space Agency is looking 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.

See the General Support Technology Programme guidance page for details on how to apply.

ARTES: UK National Delegate Support for the “Aerial Connectivity” Call

Funding type: Research, innovation, and development

Who can apply: UK Industry and Academia

Total Funding Amount: £20,000,000, no upper or lower limit for individual projects

Funding Criteria: All projects are subject to the usual European Space Agency (ESA) rules surrounding matched funding

EOI Deadline: 11am on 1 September 2023

The UK Space Agency is running a new Call for Applications under the ARTES Telecoms programme, titled “Aerial Connectivity.” We are inviting applications from UK companies who are looking for support to develop future telecommunications technologies and aerial connectivity projects in the fields of HAPS (High-Altitude Platforms), HALE (High-Altitude Long Endurance) and Drones.

See the application page to find out how to apply.

Exploration Science working group support

Funding type: Travel and time support for academics

Who can apply: Academics selected for groups and/or science teams, campaign science groups and other definition work relating to named UK Space Agency Exploration Science missions.

Award range: Up to £40,000

Closing date: Open until further notice.

See the Exploration Science working group support guidance page to find out how to apply

ARTES: Advanced Technology

Funding type: Research, innovation and development

Who can apply: UK organisations and companies (UK Space Agency and ESA approval required)

Funding: Dependent on Advanced Technology project

Deadline: Open until further notice

This is an ESA-initiated programme offering up to 100% funding for developing early technologies and innovations. Invitations To Tender (ITT) are listed on the ESA website here.

As part of the application process, companies will need to apply to the UK Space Agency for approval before they submit their application. This is a three-stage application process, in which:

  • applicants should complete an Expression of Interest form in the first instance
  • successful applicants will be asked to complete the Advanced Technology application form
  • successful applicants can apply to ESA

See the ARTES Advanced Technology page for Expression of Interest Forms and Form Guidance to find out how to apply

Please submit an Expression of Interest to the UK Space Agency, prior to the submission of your proposal. See further details on the ESA application process on the ESA website.

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.

See the NavISP announcement of opportunity to find out how to apply. Find out more about the NavISP programme.

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 ESA microgravity programmes.

See the announcement of opportunity to find out how to apply.

Responsive Mode Call - Exploration Community Development

Funding type: Development and promotion of UK space exploration community

Who can apply: UK individuals and organisations

Funding: Support will be granted to a maximum of £50,000.

Deadline: Open until further notice.

The UK Space Agency will, subject to budget being available in any given financial year, make available funds to support activities such as:

  • community building activities

  • establishing networking opportunities

  • showcases and/or organisation attendance at appropriate conferences

Applicants should detail how the proposed activity benefits the UK space exploration community.

See the call and find out how to apply.

Closed Opportunities

To view closed opportunities, please visit our closed opportunities page.

Published 30 April 2014
Last updated 1811 AugustJuly 2023 + show all updates

  1. Removed closed opportunities.

  2. Added ARTES: UK National Delegate Support for the “Aerial Connectivity” Call. Removed SCIF Call.

  3. Removed closed opportunities.

  4. Added Space Exploration Advisory Committee Call.

  5. Removed closed opportunities.

  6. Added Exploration Science Working Group support call. Added General Support Technology Programme call. Added Climate Services Call Two. Added Space Clusters and Infrastructure Fund call.

  7. Added ARTES 6G ESA call

  8. Added IBF and ETP Call Three open calls. Updated Announcement of Opportunity: 2023 Call for Mars Exploration Science total fund and deadline

  9. Added Announcement of Opportunity: Call for the ESA Earth Observation programme, InCubed2

  10. Removed SPIN and ARTES calls. Added two Mars Exploration Science calls

  11. Corrected funding amount for SciSupport call

  12. Added Announcement of Opportunity: 2023 SciSupport AO Grant Call.

  13. ARTES UK National Delegate support for the “Connecting People” Call added

  14. SPIN 23 funding call added.

  15. Funding call added.

  16. Expired calls moved to closed opportunities.

  17. Announcement of Opportunity: Responsive Mode Call - Exploration Community Development added.

  18. ETP Call One removed as deadline has passed.

  19. Updated funding opportunities, and moved closed opportunities to a different page.

  20. Enabling Technologies Programme - Call Two opened.

  21. Corrected closing of Cluster Development call.

  22. Call for ideas: UK National Delegate support for the ESA ARTES Partnership Programme Phase 1.

  23. Moved LaunchUK Technology Investment funding into Closed for Opportunities section.

  24. Added “Opening Space with 5G” and “5G Hub at Harwell” calls

  25. Added ARTES and ETP funding calls.

  26. Added open calls for cluster funding, space science and exploration bilateral missions, and LaunchUK technology investment.

  27. Updated funding opportunities August 2022.

  28. Closed announcement of opportunity.

  29. Added Enabling Space Exploration and Microgravity Experiments calls.

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

  31. ARTES call for applications opened.

  32. Opened NavISP opportunity.

  33. Exploration Science Microgravity grant opportunity has closed.

  34. Updated with relevant information.

  35. Updated information.

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

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

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

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

  40. Calls for proposals are no longer available

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

  42. Case study document attached

  43. Space for All guidance updated

  44. IPP Finance Form added

  45. National Space Technology Programme announcement of opportunity published.

  46. Attachments inserted

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

  48. Update to National Space Technology Programme funding information.

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

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

  51. Space for All small awards scheme documents updated.

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

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

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

  55. First published.

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