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
45 October 2023 — See all updates

Enabling Technologies Programme - Call Four

Funding type: Research, innovation and technology development

Who can apply: Organisations including academia, industry and (not for profit) government research institutes. Organisations must be registered in the UK.

Funding: Grant funding per project is expected to range from £100k to £250k per grant. There is not currently a fixed total amount for the call.

Deadline: Midday on 10 October 2023

The UK Space Agency invites proposals for the Enabling Technologies Programme (Open Call for Technology) Call Four for emerging and innovative technology research and development.

Proposals are sought for projects in areas including innovation; innovative technology proof of concept that could result in a significant technological step-change; new technology developments; establishing new academic/industrial research collaborations and feasibility studies targeting emerging disruptive technologies.

See the application page to apply.

Space for All Fund 2023

Funding type: Education and skills

Who can apply: Eligible organisations include academic or research institutions (including schools, universities, research councils and UK Space Agency partners), charities, trusts and companies (including not-for-profit).

Funding: £500,000 (£50,000 - £100,000 available for each project).

Deadline: 5pm on 27 October 2023

The UK Space Agency is making £500,000 available under its Space for All Fund. The Fund aims to develop new ways to reach young people from all backgrounds and encourage them to pursue STEM education by using the exciting and inspiring context of space.

See the application page to apply.

ARTES: Competitiveness and Growth – General Call

Funding type: Research, innovation and development

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

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

Deadline: 12:00 pm on Tuesday 31 October 2023

This is an industry-led programme offering matched funding for the development of commercial satellite communications technology solutions and innovations.

Companies will need to apply to the UK Space Agency for approval before they submit their application to ESA.

See the UK National Delegate support for the ESA Competitiveness and Growth programme page for Expression of Interest Form and Form Guidance to find out how to apply

Space Cluster Partnership funding call 2023

Funding type: Research, innovation and development

Who can apply: Space Clusters or other organisations that represent or lead a defined geographic area of space activity. All bids must include at least two that represent at different UK national, regional, or local space sectors.

Funding amount: Grant funding per project is expected to range from £50k to £100k.

Deadline: 6pm on 3 November 2023.

The UK Space Agency invites proposals to its funding call that will provide grant funding to strengthen the UK’s national space ecosystem and grow the space sector by:

  • Enabling local space sectors across the UK to develop stronger relationships with geographically-adjacent nations or regions.

  • Strengthening ties between the space sectors of multiple regions and/or nations of the UK by facilitating collaboration to develop and/or enhance common or complementary capabilities.

See the application page to apply.

National Space Innovation Programme - Kick Starter - Open Call (Call 1)

Funding type: Research, innovation and technology development

Who can apply: A variety of organisations including academia, industry and not for profit organisations. All organisations must be registered in the UK.

Funding: Grant funding per project is expected to range from £150k to £1m per grant.

Deadline: Midday on 17 November 2023.

The UK Space Agency invites proposals for emerging and innovative technology research and development. This is in line with the National Space Strategy vision to make the UK one of the world’s most innovative and attractive space economies

See the application page to apply.

National Space Innovation Programme - Major Projects Call One (Open Call)

Funding type: Research, innovation and technology development

Who can apply: A variety of organisations including academia, industry and not for profit organisations. All organisations must be registered in the UK.

Funding: Grant funding per project is expected to range from £1 million to £5 million per grant.

Deadline: Midday on 17 November 2023.

The UK Space Agency invites proposals for emerging and innovative technology research and development under its National Space Innovation Programme. This call is for NSIP Major Projects funding.

See the application page 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 45 October 2023 + show all updates

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

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

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

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

  6. Added ETP Call 4.

  7. Removed closed opportunities.

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

  9. Removed closed opportunities.

  10. Added Space Exploration Advisory Committee Call.

  11. Removed closed opportunities.

  12. 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.

  13. Added ARTES 6G ESA call

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

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

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

  17. Corrected funding amount for SciSupport call

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

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

  20. SPIN 23 funding call added.

  21. Funding call added.

  22. Expired calls moved to closed opportunities.

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

  24. ETP Call One removed as deadline has passed.

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

  26. Enabling Technologies Programme - Call Two opened.

  27. Corrected closing of Cluster Development call.

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

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

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

  31. Added ARTES and ETP funding calls.

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

  33. Updated funding opportunities August 2022.

  34. Closed announcement of opportunity.

  35. Added Enabling Space Exploration and Microgravity Experiments calls.

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

  37. ARTES call for applications opened.

  38. Opened NavISP opportunity.

  39. Exploration Science Microgravity grant opportunity has closed.

  40. Updated with relevant information.

  41. Updated information.

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

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

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

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

  46. Calls for proposals are no longer available

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

  48. Case study document attached

  49. Space for All guidance updated

  50. IPP Finance Form added

  51. National Space Technology Programme announcement of opportunity published.

  52. Attachments inserted

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

  54. Update to National Space Technology Programme funding information.

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

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

  57. Space for All small awards scheme documents updated.

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

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

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

  61. First published.

Contents