UK Space Agency - Unlocking Space for Business: Call 2

The lead applicant in the consortium must be an end-user business from either the Financial Services or Transport & Logistics sector.

There must also be a UK space supplier within the consortium (for example, a satellite data provider, satellite service provider or satellite insights provider).

The project must be led by a UK organisation who will receive a grant from the UK Space Agency. This can be any type of UK organisation including University-led academic research proposals and Industry-led commercial research proposals.

Grant recipients must demonstrate the ability to effectively manage a project.

Grant recipients must have a UK bank account and all grant payments will be made in UK sterling.

Projects should be ready to kick-off from 1 September 2025 and should aim to conclude by 28 February 2026 (6-month duration), but no later than 31 March 2026 (maximum 7-month duration).

The start date is dependent on completion of UK Space Agency due diligence checks, which require timely applicant involvement to avoid delays to project kick off.

The USB programme has four aims, which are to:

• catalyse investment (directly and indirectly) in satellite-derived data, applications and services by non-space businesses in the Financial Services and Transport & Logistics sectors
• champion the benefits of space for the UK private sector, including supporting the realisation of business outcomes and helping to tackle the climate emergency
• enhance UK influence and reputation as a global leader in the exploitation of downstream satellite-derived data, applications and services
• support the wider Unlocking Space programme and growth of the space sector by encouraging new customer groups and market segments

The USB programme directly contributes towards the Space Industrial Plan, supporting projects that align with the capability goals of Space Data for Earth Applications; Position, Navigation and Timing; and Satellite Communication Technology.  The UK Space Agency aims to provide support to UK space companies across their investment journey, with an emphasis on supporting companies from start-up to scale-up, to maximise delivery against economic growth. The USB programme provides interventions at the later end of this journey, with a focus on commercialisation of downstream space solutions that can be readily adopted by end-user businesses.

USB funding aims to support businesses in either the financial services or transport & logistics sectors to partner with a supplier of satellite data or services, in order to deliver a commercialised space solution for the end-user business. Projects must address at least one of the Strategic Grant Objectives for the end-user business, which are:

• driving revenue growth
• improving customer retention
• enhancing operational and financial efficiency
• addressing environmental obligations

Projects must provide positive economic benefit to an end-user business within either the Financial Services or Transport & Logistics in the UK. Proposals must be UK based, led by UK based organisations.

Projects must involve at least one satellite data domain (Earth observation, Satcom, PNT), and may involve complementary enabling technologies such as AI, Quantum or Machine Learning.

Projects must start at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 5+ and must progress to at least TRL 7 by the end of the project.

Projects must be able to demonstrate a tangible benefit to the end-user business within the 7-month maximum project duration. Projects must have clearly defined, and tangible outcomes measured against success criteria showing progress towards commercialisation.

Examples of previous successful pilot projects can be found here.

Register to attend ESA’s Unlocking Space for Business grant call webinar taking place on 22 May 2025 at 11am.

If you would like help to form a consortium, contact Innovate UK Business Connect’s Space team, Transport team, and/or Digital team (which includes financial services).