Connectivity in Low Earth Orbit (C-LEO) Programme - Call 3

Details

Who can apply: UK Industry

Funding Envelope: £42,000,000

Deadline: 12:00 pm UK time on Monday 7 September 2026

The satellite communications sector is undergoing rapid transformation, driven by the emergence of high-volume constellations and the need for scalable, resilient infrastructure. To remain competitive, UK industry must accelerate the development and industrialisation of key technologies such as regenerative processing, networking and routing, active antennas, optical links, and advanced user terminals. 

To ensure the UK can seize these strategic opportunities, the UK Space Agency (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology) is seeking proposals that will drive innovation in satellite communications and strengthen the UK’s position in the global constellation supply chain.  

This is a defined grants Call, with up to £42,000,000 of UK Space Agency funding being made available. Theavailable. thresholdThe forUK grantSpace Agency is seeking to award funding requestedof fromaround UK£4 Spacemillion Agencyto is£25 million per project to a minimumhandful of £5,000,000.  of projects through this third call.

All projects must include a compelling element of matched funding to be eligible under the programme. Further details on matched funding and other eligibility requirements are contained in the guidance document.

The Call opens on Monday 20th July 2026 and will close at 12:00pm GMT on Monday 7th September 2026. The UK Space Agency aims to notify all applicants of the results of their Stage One proposals by Friday 2nd October 2026 

Schedule for Applications 

1. Funding Call Opens: Monday 20 July 2026 

2. Deadline for submission of the UK Space Agency Stage One Form: 12:00pm UK time Monday 7 September 2026 

3. Notification of Outcomes and Invitations to Next Stage (stage 2): By Friday 2 October 2026 

4. Deadline for Submission of the UK Space Agency Stage Two Form & Associated Annexes: 12:00pm, Wednesday 11 November 2026 

5. Notification of Outcomes: By Wednesday 16 December 2026 

Any questions about this funding opportunity should be submitted to UKSA.Satcoms@dsit.gov.uk. Questions submitted to any other DSIT email address will not be considered.