UK Space Agency: National Space Innovation Programme – Call 2

Proposals must be UK based, led by UK based organisations with clear national benefit. Projects can include non-domestic partners (including those within the EU) who bring their own funding. No grant funding is available in this call for organisations outside the UK.

All successful proposals must meet the UK Space Agency’s eligibility criteria for grant funding. Grant recipients must have a UK bank account and all grant payments will be made in UK sterling.

Through NSIP Call 2, the UK Space Agency intends to award at least £17 million of funding via co-funded grants.

Applicants may apply for the following funding and project durations:

• Kick Starter proposals may request grant funding between £150,000 and £1,000,000 with a maximum duration of 16 months. Kick Starter projects are roughly defined as early stage (TRL 1-4) with an emphasis on highly disruptive or novel proposals.
• Major Projects proposals may request grant funding between £150,000 and £2,000,000 with a maximum duration of 16 months. Major Projects should achieve high TRLs (5-9) with an emphasis on commercialisation and catalysing investment.

It is anticipated that with at least £17 million of funding available, between 9-15 grants will be awarded. Should additional funding become available, UKSA will seek to increase the number of projects it supports. As UKSA expects a very high level of interest in this funding call, we are implementing an Outline Proposal stage. Those successful at Outline Proposal stage will be invited to submit a Full Proposal. We expect to seek Full Proposals from approximately 50 applicants.

Grant recipients should be prepared to kick off by Monday 10 November 2025 or propose a start date in the application form which allows the project to have concluded by 31 March 2027 at the latest. The start date is dependent on completion of UK Space Agency due diligence checks. These checks may require timely applicant involvement to avoid delays to project kick off.

NSIP Call 2 will expand the NSIP portfolio, providing companies, universities and research organisations with co-funded grants to support the development of innovative, UK-based, space technologies, applications and services that will meet the programme’s ambitions.

Despite running open funding calls that allow any great innovation to apply for support, NSIP seeks to encourage the development of the UK’s National Space Capabilities as set out in the Space Industrial Plan, supporting projects that align with the in the 5 capability goals, which are:

• Space Domain Awareness
• In-Orbit Servicing, Assembly and Manufacturing
• Space Data for Earth Applications
• Position, Navigation and Timing
• Satellite Communication Technology.

NSIP also welcomes proposals that address the Defence Highly Assured Technical Areas as set out in annex to the Space Industrial Plan.

Although most of the funding available through this funding call will be “open” allowing proposals on any space technology, application or service, UKSA intends to strategically target up to 30% of the Call 2 budget on the theme of “Space Data for Earth Applications”. In support of this theme, we welcome projects that seek to deliver capabilities and applications that utilise satellite data to the benefit of UK citizens and grow the economy.

Examples of projects that would fit within this theme include:

• use of Earth Observation data, satellite communications, or Global Navigation Satellite Services PNT that help to address public sector, industry or defence requirements
• development of space data related technologies and instruments that could deliver new UK capabilities or significantly disrupt existing business models
• development or utilisation of on-board computing to improve the efficiency or quality of satellite data capabilities
• integration of Artificial Intelligence and space data/technology to support smarter decision-making or to deliver new capabilities and business models
• activities that support capacity building, integration or scale up of space-data related applications and services which offer high returns on investment
• initiatives that aim to improve data sharing and interoperability between different satellite systems and ground-based infrastructure
• Economic Monitoring and Forecasting: leveraging satellite data to inform strategic analysis and planning in support of public and business needs
• projects leveraging satellite technology or data to enhance the delivery of healthcare services and support the government’s mission to build an NHS fit for the future. This could include operationalising enhanced telemedicine capabilities supported by satellite connectivity or remote sensing
• projects that use satellite data, AI, or PNT technologies to improve transport infrastructure planning and enhance network resilience. This could include predictive analytics for road and rail maintenance
• targeted initiatives in the EO Ground Segment sector with a view to winning ESA and Copernicus opportunities for EO Data and Operations Management e.g. FutureEO Pillar 2, Copernicus Data Ecosystem, Collaborative Ground Segment, TRUTHS, Digital Twin Earth

Full details about the opportunity and the application guidance can be found in the Announcement of Opportunity with key information included in the NSIP Call 2 guidance video.

You can also contact Innovate UK Business Connect’s Space team for enquiries and support.