Funding & Projects

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.

Funding type: Research, innovation, and development

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

Deadline: Open until further notice.

The UK Space Agency is looking to provide support to companies and academic institutions across the UK in developing innovative technologies to grow UK capability. We are keen to engage with start-ups and SMEs (from both within and outside the space sector), as well as established companies and organisations. Collaborative proposals are also welcomed.

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 £100,000

Closing date: Open until further

The Business Applications and Space Solutions Programme (BASS) programme, in partnership between the UK Space Agency and European Space Agency (ESA), is a commercially focused space applications programme that delivers innovative uses of space assets and data. BASS offers funding and support to businesses from any sector who intend to use space (for example, satellite navigation, earth observation, satellite telecommunication, space weather) to develop new commercial services.

Explore is perfect for those making their first steps into the commercial space industry. Perhaps you think of yourself as an “inventor” with a desire to commit to building a scalable business, or maybe you’re working in another industry such as aerospace, law, quantum technology, farming, environmental engineering or healthcare but see the potential for your idea in space.

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.

ESA PAS is a new initiative from UK Space Agency designed to support UK-based organisations bidding for European Space Agency contracts

It is designed to improve the quality, completeness, strategic alignment and consistency of bids – thereby aiming to strengthen the bidder’s application for funding – by providing free, non-technical advice to organisations through a thorough review of their draft bid (before submission).

Who is it for? 

The service is open to UK-based organisations, such as start-ups, SMEs, academic institutions, mid-caps, primes, and consortia.

Organisations may be bidding as prime (directly to ESA) or as a subcontractor into another organisation or as part of a consortium – either is eligible for ESA PAS.

A set of criteria has been established to enable prioritisation, however, we will try and accommodate all applicants, if possible.

How does it work?

ESA PAS focuses on improving the clarity, structure, and strategic alignment of proposals by identifying common errors and areas for improvement. This is done by a thorough review of the draft bid submission (all volumes), read alongside the ITT/RFP. Detailed feedback is provided giving recommendations for improvements, for example highlighting inconsistencies and common mistakes.

All information submitted to ESA PAS is treated in strict commercial confidence. It is not shared with any third parties outside of the UK Space Agency and its ESA PAS delivery partner KI Bid Consulting.

How to apply:

Organisations should apply as soon as they have taken a decision to bid for a specific opportunity.

To apply to use ESA PAS, organisations must complete the triage form. Triage forms are reviewed weekly, and successful applicants will be invited to upload their draft proposal to a dedicated UKSA portal (only accessible to the applicant and UKSA/KI Bid Consulting) roughly one week before the submission deadline.

Detailed feedback specific to the reviewed bid will be provided to the organisation roughly four days prior to the submission deadline, allowing time to integrate recommendations into their proposal.

Specific dates are communicated as part of the onboarding process – and we know that bids can be stressful and time-pressured, so UKSA work as flexibly as possible to accommodate bid extensions and last-minute changes.

Applicants can request a verbal feedback session in addition to written feedback if they wish to discuss the comments or ask further questions.

Successful applicants can receive up to 3 days consultation from a cyber security professional funded by the UK Space Agency. This can be virtual or at a place of business (UK) depending on requirements.

Applicants can also receive a Cyber Essentials and/or Cyber Essentials audit, assessment and certification.  Achieving any recognised standard of cyber security will reassure customers that you are working to secure your IT against cyber attack and make your company more attractive to new business in a growing competitive international marketplace.

Work undertaken can include:

• Interpretation of designs to understand how IT infrastructure is currently architectured in order to identify any security flaws.
• Advice regarding security assessments & testing, asset security and software development security (does not include hands on security testing such as penetration tests).
• Company or System Security Governance reviews
• Review and recommendations on Company or System Security Policies and Processes
• System security requirements and development support
• High level risk assessments and risk assessment review, including recommendations for mitigating actions
• A written report detailing findings, vulnerabilities and recommendations.
• In person or virtual meetings as required, to present findings, assist with remediation and risk management planning.

Applying organisations must meet the following criteria:

• Be an SME involved in space sector activity (less than 250 employee headcount)
• Have a manufacturing or operational presence in the UK (includes NI). Applications from micro/start-up businesses are particularly welcomed.

The Application form is at https://collaborate.resilience.gov.uk/home/329682/NEWS. Please register for a free account if you don’t already have one. (Ensure you register with an individual named (not shared/team) business email address. When asked to ‘Select Group’ it is UK Space Agency RD Lite).

Applications should be submitted to resilience@ukspaceagency.gov.uk.

If you have any questions please contact resilience@ukspaceagency.gov.uk.

ESA Space Solutions is the go-to place for great business ideas involving space in all areas of society and economy. Our mission is to support entrepreneurs in Europe in the development of business using satellite applications and space technology. Our network includes the ESA Business Applications Ambassadors and the recurring ESA Investor Forum.

ESA Space Solutions and Business Applications are part of ESA’s ARTES (Advanced Research in Telecommunications Systems) 4.0 Programme. We provide different types of funding opportunities such as Kick-Starts, Feasibility Studies and Demonstration Projects and support the development of sustainable services utilising space assets.

Space assets like satellite data or spaceflight technologies offer many opportunities and solutions to businesses. Are you an entrepreneur, or are you running a start-up or an established business? Then you might be interested to apply for our different funding opportunities. See the link below for more information.

The Thematic Call for proposals aims at supporting new space-based services for the digital transformation and sustainability of the sport sector, specifically in the organisation, management, and further exploitation of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. It primarily targets the next Games in Europe – Paris 2024 and Milano Cortina 2026, with the ambition of providing services for the future Games as well, ensuring continuity of the sustainability model.

ESA open call “Space4Rail Downstream Applications in ARTES 4.0” aims to support the exploitation of space-based assets (satellite navigation, satellite communications and/or Earth observation) in innovative and sustainable applications/services:

1. Related to future control, command and signalling applications of the European Rail system;
2. Improving the performance and attractiveness of the railway, both for railway undertakings and end users.

Future of Retail is an opportunity for businesses to submit proposals to develop innovative services that leverage space technology for the benefit of the retail sector.

There are several areas where new services could be developed under this initiative:

1. Immersive retail
2. Supply chain transparency and resilience
3. Autonomous retail
4. Connected retail

75% funding can be from the European Space Agency, up to €75 000 , for each selected activity. The maximum total project cost is €100 000.

ESA Business Applications’ Call for proposals (Direct Negotiation) is always open. Businesses from any sector can apply throughout the year, and the amount of funding may vary according to the project. The goal of this activity is for the business to develop a new commercial service that utilises one or more space asset (such as Satellite Communications, Earth Observation, Satellite Navigation, Human Spaceflight technologies and other space assets).

The Commercial Applications enabled by Space Environments (CASE) Open Call for Proposals supports the development of commercial services that benefit from microgravity and space environments.

The overall programme of work is split into two main parts:  Technology Brokerage: This part of the work will see TWI support and promote activities between space and non-space entities, including match-making between interested organisations.

Prepare for Space: This technology transfer programme will allow non-space companies to apply for business and technical support, lowering the barrier of entry to the space industry.

Our aim, as the ESA Technology Broker in the UK is focused on building an ecosystem that fuels technical innovation and mutual growth between terrestrial and space industries to create a collaborative environment that delivers tangible outcomes. These collaborative, commercial activities will create a bridge between different industry sectors to share knowledge and information, stimulating non-space companies to enter the space industry as well as leveraging space technologies for terrestrial applications. ‘Prepare for Space’ has been created to support UK companies in finding commercial opportunities in the space industry by providing dedicated business case development training, supply chain understanding, and routes to source funding for projects.

This aspect of the project will also facilitate on-boarding for non-space companies into ESA programmes, providing information and training on ESA opportunities, technology transfer and calls.

InCubed stands for ‘Investing in Industrial Innovation’ and is a Public Private Partnership co-funding programme run by the ESA Φ-lab. InCubed focuses on developing innovative and commercially viable products and services that generate or exploit the value of Earth observation imagery and datasets. The programme has a very wide scope and can be used to co-fund anything from building satellites to ground applications and everything between or to develop new EO business models.

Identify opportunities for R&D, collaboration and partnership building with the RTO/Catapult Growth Support programme delivered by Innovate UK Edge. This grant funding allows eligible businesses to claim back % of project activities up to a maximum of £15,000

Innovate UK Business Growth is a publicly-funded service offering full wrap-around support to pioneering, innovative businesses that drive economic growth including how to exploit business innovation, open new markets, and source funding and finance. Get in touch to find out more.

UK registered academic institutions, research and technology organisations (RTO) or Catapults can apply for a share of up to £10 million to fund innovation projects with businesses or not for profits.

To lead a project your organisation must:

• be a UK registered higher education or further education institution, RTO or Catapult
• collaborate with a UK registered business or charitable business with two or more full-time employees

The business must contribute to the project’s costs.