Funding Opportunities – Luca Budello, Innovate UK Business Growth
At the recent Space4Cimate workshop with Airbus, entitled ‘Collaboration Earth’, we were treated to a presentation on a range of funding opportunities from Luca Budello, Knowledge Transfer Manager – Geospatial from Innovate UK Business Growth.
He has kindly allowed us to share his slides Funding Opportunities Q22025_
Below is a quick overview of each fund:
Innovate UK Growth Catalyst for late-stage startups: Clean Energy and Climate Technologies.
- For UK late stage start-ups. Support of up to 70% of project costs, Bespoke business growth action plan
developed with Innovate UK specialist support. Project Costs: Varied based on themes.
Farming Futures R&D Fund: low emissions farming
- For UK-registered businesses, universities and RTOs. Part of Defra’s Farming
Innovation Programme, funding: Up to £2.5 mil per project. Projects must commence on 1 Jan 2026
and last between 30 and 36 months
- supporting companies to deliver operational, customer and environmental benefits through the use
of innovative satellite data and services. Specific themes in Financial Services and Transport.
Transport Accelerator: Maritime 2025
- For early-stage UK-registered companies with solutions at TRL 5-8. Specific themes Autonomous Operations, Storage and Distribution of Future, People’s Safety Experience, Open Challenge. Support £10-20K, Bespoke business support.
Horizon Europe 2025 work programme Cluster 4: Digital, Industry and Space
- Various topics in 6 destinations, European consortium requirement, varied funding support per topic up to €75m funding for a single project
Horizon Europe 2025 EU Missions: Restore Our Oceans and Waters
- Various calls, up to €15m per project, which can fund up to 100% of project costs depending on call type.
Horizon Europe 2025 EU Missions: 100 Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities by 2030
- Single stage calls ending in September 25 and Jan 26. Up to €15m per project, which can fund up to 100% of project costs depending on call type.
Horizon Europe 2025 EU Missions: Adaptation to Climate Change
- Up to €25m per project, which can fund up to 100% of project costs depending on call type. Call ends Sept 25.
Horizon Europe 2025 EU Missions: Soil Deal for Europe
- Up to €11m per project, which can fund up to 100% of project costs depending on call type. Calls end Sept 25
Horizon Europe 2025 work programme Cluster 5: Climate, Energy and Mobility
- 5 destinations with varied themes. The indicative amount of EU funding contributions for most projects in this cluster ranges from €500k to €15m. This can cover up to 100% of costs depending on the call.
- 7 destinations with varied themes. The indicative amount of EU funding contributions for most projects in this cluster ranges from €3m to €12m. This can cover up to 100% of costs depending on the call.
- Speak to us for an intro to Liz Clutton, our ESA Ambassador United Kingdom | ESA Space Solutions
European Space Agency: Space For Intermodal Transport
- Feasibility studies – maximum of €500,000; demonstration projects, no maximum, case by case assessment. This can cover up to 80% of costs depending on business size.
European Space Agency: Space For Sustainable, Connected and Liveable Cities
- Up to 80% of project costs can be covered, depending on business size and project type.
European Space Agency: Space For Insurance Technology
- Closes 06/06/2025. Kick-Starts are funded at 75% by ESA, up to a maximum of €75K per contract.
European Space Agency: Integrated Digital Solutions For The Energy Sector
- Closes 30/06/25. Maximum total cost for feasibility studies is €500,000 per study: ESA will fund up to 80% of this for SMEs, or up to 50% for larger companies. Demonstration projects will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.