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
83 FebruaryJanuary 2024 — See all updates

Atmospheric ablation: the potential environmental impact of space debris re-entering Earth’s upper atmosphere

Funding type: Research, innovation and technology development

Who can apply: Organisations of any size working alone or with other organisations as sub-contractors may apply. All organisations must be registered in the UK.

Funding: Up to £300,000 will be made available

Closing date: Midday on Friday 20 January 2024

The UK Space Agency is making available up to £300,000 of grant funding to map out the current state of research into atmospheric ablation (knowns, unknowns and gaps in knowledge), within the wider technical, geopolitical and socio-ecological context, in order to develop a viable research programme with short, medium and long-term goals.

See the application page to apply.

Science and Exploration Bilateral Programme: Call 2

Funding type: Research, innovation and technology development

Who can apply: UK national and academic organisations eligible for UKRI grants involved in bilateral space science and exploration missions.

Funding: Up to £1 million (£300,000 to £500,000 per project)

Deadline: 11:59pm on 31 January 2024 for part 1 (SOI) of proposal

Proposals are invited for participation in bilateral space science and exploration (SS&E) missions, which are already in advanced state of discussion, but requiring funding during the current Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR) period to end March 2025.

See the application page to apply.

Connectivity in Low Earth Orbit (C-LEO) R&D programme

Funding type: Research, innovation and technology development

Who can apply: Organisations of any size either working alone or in collaboration with others. All organisations must be registered in the UK.

Funding: £15 million

Deadline: Open until further notice.

The UK Space Agency is opening £15 million of calls to nurture innovation for satellite communications which will be delivered as part of the £60 million European Space Agency Advanced Research in Telecommunications Systems (ARTES) programme, allocated to the UK’s C-LEO scheme.

Email telecoms@ukspaceagency.gov.uk to 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 83 FebruaryJanuary 2024 + show all updates

  1. Removed closed opportunities.

  2. Removed two programmes that have closed (they will be added to the closed programmes page). Updated deadline of the Atmospheric ablation call to from 19 January to 20 January

  3. 'Atmospheric ablation: the potential environmental impact of space debris re-entering Earth’s upper atmosphere' was added as the call went live today (11 December 2023).

  4. 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.

  5. Added C-LEO call.

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

  7. 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

  14. 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.

  15. 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.

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

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

  18. Added ETP Call 4.

  19. Removed closed opportunities.

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

  21. Removed closed opportunities.

  22. Added Space Exploration Advisory Committee Call.

  23. Removed closed opportunities.

  24. 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.

  25. Added ARTES 6G ESA call

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

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

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

  29. Corrected funding amount for SciSupport call

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

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

  32. SPIN 23 funding call added.

  33. Funding call added.

  34. Expired calls moved to closed opportunities.

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

  36. ETP Call One removed as deadline has passed.

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

  38. Enabling Technologies Programme - Call Two opened.

  39. Corrected closing of Cluster Development call.

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

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

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

  43. Added ARTES and ETP funding calls.

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

  45. Updated funding opportunities August 2022.

  46. Closed announcement of opportunity.

  47. Added Enabling Space Exploration and Microgravity Experiments calls.

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

  49. ARTES call for applications opened.

  50. Opened NavISP opportunity.

  51. Exploration Science Microgravity grant opportunity has closed.

  52. Updated with relevant information.

  53. Updated information.

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

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

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

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

  58. Calls for proposals are no longer available

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

  60. Case study document attached

  61. Space for All guidance updated

  62. IPP Finance Form added

  63. National Space Technology Programme announcement of opportunity published.

  64. Attachments inserted

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

  66. Update to National Space Technology Programme funding information.

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

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

  69. Space for All small awards scheme documents updated.

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

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

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

  73. First published.

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