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
2311 NovemberDecember 2023 — See all updates

ConnectivitySciSpacE insupport LowAO Earthgrant Orbitcall (C-LEO)- R&Dautumn programme2023

Funding type: Research, innovation and technology development

Who can apply: OrganisationsUK ofbased anyresearchers sizewho eitherhave workingalready alonesecured orfacility inaccess collaborationto withmicrogravity others.and space environments research platforms through the ESA SciSpacE Programmes Research Announcements. All organisations must be registered in the UK.

Funding:Deadline: £154pm millionon 14 December 2023

Deadline:See Openthe untilapplication furtherpage notice.to apply.

The

Phase 2: UK SpaceNational AgencyDelegate issupport openingfor £15the millionESA ofCompetitiveness callsand toGrowth nurtureprogramme

Funding innovationtype: forResearch, satelliteinnovation communicationsand whichtechnology willdevelopment

Who becan deliveredapply: asOrganisations partproposing oftelecommunications theprojects. £60All millionorganisations Europeanmust Spacebe Agencyregistered Advanced Research in Telecommunicationsthe SystemsUK.

Closing (ARTES)date: programme,12pm allocatedon toMonday the15 UK’s C-LEO scheme.December

EmailSee telecoms@ukspaceagency.gov.ukthe application page to find out more.apply.

SBRI:Science Activeand DebrisExploration RemovalBilateral RefuellingProgramme: MissionCall feasibility study - Phase 12

Funding type: Research, innovation and technology development

Who can apply: OrganisationsUK ofnational anyand sizeacademic eitherorganisations workingeligible alonefor orUKRI ingrants collaborationinvolved within others.bilateral Allspace organisationsscience mustand beexploration registered in the UK.missions.

Funding: GrantUp fundingto per£1 projectmillion is(£300,000 up to £500,000 per grant.project)

Deadline: 11am11:59pm on 531 DecemberJanuary 2023.2024 for part 1 (SOI) of proposal

TheProposals aimare ofinvited thefor competitionparticipation isin tobilateral undertakespace feasibilityscience studiesand toexploration refuel(SS&E) missions, which are already in advanced state of discussion, but requiring funding during the Nationalcurrent ActiveComprehensive DebrisSpending RemovalReview Mission(CSR) andperiod ato commercialend client/customerMarch satellite.2025.

See the application page to apply.

SciSpacEConnectivity supportin AOLow grantEarth callOrbit -(C-LEO) autumnR&D 2023programme

Funding type: Research, innovation and technology development

Who can apply: UKOrganisations basedof researchersany whosize haveeither alreadyworking securedalone facilityor accessin tocollaboration microgravitywith andothers. space environments research platforms through the ESA SciSpacE Programmes Research Announcements. All organisations must be registered in the UK.

Deadline:Funding: 4pm£15 on 14 December 2023million

SeeDeadline: theOpen applicationuntil pagefurther to apply.notice.

Phase

The 2: UK NationalSpace DelegateAgency supportis foropening the£15 ESAmillion Competitivenessof andcalls Growthto programme

Fundingnurture type:innovation Research,for innovationsatellite andcommunications technologywhich development

Whowill canbe apply:delivered Organisationsas proposingpart telecommunicationsof projects.the All£60 organisationsmillion mustEuropean beSpace registeredAgency Advanced Research in theTelecommunications UK.

ClosingSystems date:(ARTES) 12pmprogramme, onallocated Mondayto 15the DecemberUK’s C-LEO scheme.

SeeEmail the application pagetelecoms@ukspaceagency.gov.uk to apply.find out more.

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 (On hold) 

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 activity 

Deadline: Applications for UK support into this ESA programme are on hold until Spring 2024

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. 

We are reviewing our approach towards ESA Advanced Technology Programme and will look to publish further details in Spring 2024. We will not be supporting any further activities before new guidance is published. 

If you have any questions, you can contact us directly at telecoms@ukspaceagency.gov.uk.

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 2311 NovemberDecember 2023 + show all updates

  1. Science and Exploration Bilateral Programme: Call 2 added, and SBRI: Active Debris Removal Refuelling Mission feasibility study - Phase 1 removed, which closed on 5 December.

  2. Added C-LEO call.

  3. NSIP Kick Starter and Major Projects calls have been removed from the details section, as they have both closed.

  4. The ARTES: Advanced technology call has been put on hold, so changes have been made to the section relating to the call to reflect it is on hold.

  5. SciSpacE support AO grant call - autumn 2023 added as the call has opened.

  6. 'Phase 2: UK National Delegate support for the ESA Competitiveness and Growth programme' opened, so added to list of open calls.

  7. Space for all fund has been removed as it has closed. The refuelling study call has been added as it has opened.

  8. Two programmes that have closed removed from the list of open programmes.

  9. Removing the ETP funding call from the body text field as it closed today on 10 October.

  10. A new funding call opportunity, NSIP Major Projects funding call, has been added in the main body, in date order.

  11. Updated the body field of the page with a new funding call to reflect the Space Cluster Programme funding call opening on 4 October 2023.

  12. A new call for funding (National Space Innovation Programme – Kick Starter – Open Call (Call 1)) has been added to the top of the list of calls for funding on this page, as it opened on 28 September 2023.

  13. Added UK National Delegate support for the ESA Competitiveness and Growth programme details and links.

  14. Added Space for All Fund. Removed closed ARTES call.

  15. Added ETP Call 4.

  16. Removed closed opportunities.

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

  18. Removed closed opportunities.

  19. Added Space Exploration Advisory Committee Call.

  20. Removed closed opportunities.

  21. 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.

  22. Added ARTES 6G ESA call

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

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

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

  26. Corrected funding amount for SciSupport call

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

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

  29. SPIN 23 funding call added.

  30. Funding call added.

  31. Expired calls moved to closed opportunities.

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

  33. ETP Call One removed as deadline has passed.

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

  35. Enabling Technologies Programme - Call Two opened.

  36. Corrected closing of Cluster Development call.

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

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

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

  40. Added ARTES and ETP funding calls.

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

  42. Updated funding opportunities August 2022.

  43. Closed announcement of opportunity.

  44. Added Enabling Space Exploration and Microgravity Experiments calls.

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

  46. ARTES call for applications opened.

  47. Opened NavISP opportunity.

  48. Exploration Science Microgravity grant opportunity has closed.

  49. Updated with relevant information.

  50. Updated information.

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

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

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

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

  55. Calls for proposals are no longer available

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

  57. Case study document attached

  58. Space for All guidance updated

  59. IPP Finance Form added

  60. National Space Technology Programme announcement of opportunity published.

  61. Attachments inserted

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

  63. Update to National Space Technology Programme funding information.

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

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

  66. Space for All small awards scheme documents updated.

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

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

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

  70. First published.

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