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
18 July 2024 — See all updates

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: Invitations To Tender (ESA Workplan Activities) 

Funding type: Research, innovation and development 

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

Funding: Dependent on Invitation To Tender (ITT) activity 

Deadline: Open until further notice 

These are ESA-initiated programmes offering up to 100% funding for developing early technologies and innovations. Invitations To Tender (ITTs) are listed on ESA-STAR. You will need to register to access the activities.  

For supported ITTs, as part of the application process, companies will need to apply to the UK Space Agency for approval before they submit their final application. This is a three-stage application process, in which: 

  • applicants should register their interest via the online ‘UK registration for ARTES Invitations To Tender’ form 
  • if approved, applicants will then be asked to submit their Full Proposal to the UK Space Agency for review
  • once the UK Authorisation of Funding letter has been received, applicants may then apply to ESA

Please note, the UK Space Agency reserves the right to apply additional requirements to any supported ITT. We will notify you once you have registered your interest, if applicable. 

To enquire about a specific activity not included on the ‘UK Space Agency-supported ITT’s’ document on the call web page, please email telecoms@ukspaceagency.gov.uk.

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.

General Support Technology Programme (GSTP)

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.

See the General Support Technology Programme guidance page for details on how to apply.

Closed Opportunities

To view closed opportunities, please visit our closed opportunities page.

Updates to this page

Published 30 April 2014
Last updated 18 July 2024 + show all updates

  1. ARTES programme: general call for expressions of interest (EOI) in satellite communication development and SBRI: UK National Active Debris Removal (ADR) Mission Technology Development - Phase 2 have been removed, as they have both closed. ARTES: Invitations To Tender (ESA Workplan Activities) updated.

  2. Removed Announcement of opportunity: Unlocking Space for Business as deadline has passed.

  3. UK Space Agency-Axiom Space astronaut mission projects 2024/2025, C-LEO programme and Announcement of opportunity: 2024 Exploration Science removed as they have closed. SBRI: UK National Active Debris Removal (ADR) Mission Technology Development - Phase 2 added.

  4. Removed Training Programmes Fund as it has now closed.

  5. Added Unlocking Space for Business programme.

  6. The deadline for applications to the 2024 Exploration Science call have been changed to the following: - science overview (for PDRA and fellowship applicants only): 4pm on Thursday 18 April 2024 - full proposal (for all applicants): 4pm on Thursday 9 May 2024 Updated ARTES: Advanced Technology information. Added C-LEO call.

  7. Added details about the 2024 Exploration Science funding call, which opened on 11 March 2024.

  8. Removed C-LEO open call.

  9. Details added about the ARTES programme general call for expressions of interest (EOI) in satellite communication development, as it opened on 26 February 2024.

  10. Added details of Training Programmes Fund (Education & Future Workforce Team)

  11. UK Space Agency-Axiom Space astronaut mission projects 2024/2025 added to the list of open funding opportunities.

  12. Removed closed opportunities.

  13. 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

  14. '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).

  15. 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.

  16. Added C-LEO call.

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

  18. 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

  25. 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.

  26. 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.

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

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

  29. Added ETP Call 4.

  30. Removed closed opportunities.

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

  32. Removed closed opportunities.

  33. Added Space Exploration Advisory Committee Call.

  34. Removed closed opportunities.

  35. 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.

  36. Added ARTES 6G ESA call

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

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

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

  40. Corrected funding amount for SciSupport call

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

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

  43. SPIN 23 funding call added.

  44. Funding call added.

  45. Expired calls moved to closed opportunities.

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

  47. ETP Call One removed as deadline has passed.

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

  49. Enabling Technologies Programme - Call Two opened.

  50. Corrected closing of Cluster Development call.

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

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

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

  54. Added ARTES and ETP funding calls.

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

  56. Updated funding opportunities August 2022.

  57. Closed announcement of opportunity.

  58. Added Enabling Space Exploration and Microgravity Experiments calls.

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

  60. ARTES call for applications opened.

  61. Opened NavISP opportunity.

  62. Exploration Science Microgravity grant opportunity has closed.

  63. Updated with relevant information.

  64. Updated information.

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

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

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

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

  69. Calls for proposals are no longer available

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

  71. Case study document attached

  72. Space for All guidance updated

  73. IPP Finance Form added

  74. National Space Technology Programme announcement of opportunity published.

  75. Attachments inserted

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

  77. Update to National Space Technology Programme funding information.

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

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

  80. Space for All small awards scheme documents updated.

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

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

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

  84. First published.

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