Guidance

Unlocking Space for Business

Unlocking Space for Business is a new UK Space Agency programme supporting companies to deliver operational, customer and environmental benefits through the use of innovative satellite data and services.

Documents

Unlocking Space for Business programme (pdf)

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Details

The UK Space Agency Unlocking Space for Business programme logo.

Programme Overview   

UnlockingAs Spacepart forof Businessthe playsgovernment’s plan to make the UK a keyscience roleand intechnology enablingsuperpower, the government’sNational Space Strategy sets the ambition to accelerateuse innovationspace andto investmentdeliver throughfor world-classUK science,citizens research and development.the world. Unlocking Space for Business iswill deliveringplay a key role in enabling this ambition, through the delivery of a range of government initiatives to support the realisation of business, operational and environmental benefits from innovative uses of satellite data and servicesservices. forInitiatives end-userwill businesses in the financial services and transport and logistics sectors.include:

Since launching in October 2023, the programme has engaged over 300 organisations through initiatives, including in-person networking events, customised exploration workshops and learning and development webinars. 

Sign up to the Unlocking Space for Business Newsletter to stay up to date on upcoming initiatives.

Information hub

LearnAccess moreto aboutinsights on how businesses in the financial servicesservices, and transport and logistics sectors can unlock value from satellites,satellites, with examples of activity from across the world.

InsightExploration and networking events  workshops

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Important information for participants  

Unlocking Space for Business aims to implement a number of customer-focused initiatives to support and enable greater awareness, engagement, learning and development and demand for satellite data and services. It is expected to run until March 2025, and funded projects must be completed within the 18-month lifetime.

As a new pilot programme, continuous learning and feedback is encouraged from participants of events, workshops and recipients of funding.

The focus areas for the programme are businesses within the financial services, and transport and logistics sectors.

The programme will be open to opportunities across all satellite domains (including satellite imagery, satellite connectivity and communications, satellite position, navigation and timing), in combination with complementary data types.

Funded projects should be targeting a tangible benefit to the UK, whether that’s the realisation of benefits to UK businesses and citizens, or contributing to the growth of the UK space sector.

Further information

Our privacy notice sets out how we will process personal data received through the sign up form for the Unlocking Space for Business Newsletter and upcoming events.

A live webinar took place on Monday 6 November to launch Unlocking Space for Business, looking at what the programme involves and how it could benefit you.

Watch the Unlocking Space for Business live launch webinar.

If you would like any further information, have any questions or feedback about this programme, or would like to request the newsletter and events sign-up form in a different format, please contact the team at UnlockingSpaceforBusiness@ukspaceagency.gov.uk.

Watch a video about Unlocking Space for Business by the UK Space Agency.

Other UK Space Agency initiatives

Business Applications and Space Solutions Programme (BASS) (ARTES) 

As part of the ARTES programme, the Business Applications and Space Solutions Programme (BASS), in partnership between the UK Space Agency and European Space Agency (ESA), is a commercially focussed space applications programme that delivers innovative uses of space assets and data. 

Earth Observation 

Find further details on open funding opportunities for earth observation projects

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

Find further details on open funding opportunities from the UK Space Agency, the space sector, academic, education and community partners.

Updates to this page

Published 18 October 2023
Last updated 118 AugustJuly 2024 + show all updates
  1. Content on the landing page has been updated.

  2. Slight updates to the Privacy notice for Unlocking Space for Business programme - HTML attachment

  3. Information about networking events and a grant call has been added. There has been a slight style and structure change to the page to improve clarity. No information has been updated or removed as part of this change.

  4. New sub bullet added to the 'insight and networking events' bullet under the programme overview heading on the landing page. The bullet outlines a relevant event happening in March 2024.

  5. There has been a change to the wording of the learning and development bullet under the programme overview heading, including a link to register for the learning and development programme.

  6. Addition of links to business registration form in details section of the page.

  7. In details section, date for the transport and logistics event Manchester changed to 5 December 2023.

  8. All changes under Details heading on main page. Update to 'insight and networking events' bullet point, addition of specific events. Link to SBRI competition added to 'funding call' bullet point. Small paragraph of text added to introduce webinar recording. Webinar recording also added.

  9. Slight updates made to the privacy notice document. The Cabinet Office has been added to the list of organisations with whom data will be shared, and a paragraph has been added about email communication.

  10. First published.

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