UK Space Agency funding for national innovations

Up to £65mln will be available for ground-breaking innovations in space technologies and applications.

The National Space Innovation Programme (NSIP) is for high-risk, high-reward projects designed by British organisations that could accelerate new space tecnologies, satellite applications and services.

Innovations could include the use of satellite data to combat climate change or providing services to make in-orbit applications more sustainable.

The Agency says the first tranche of up to £34mln will be open to proposals that drive innovation, accelerate the route to market and catalyse the UK space sector.

The remaining funding is is planned to be split across 2024 and 2025, with projects running until March 2027.

NSIP has provided UK organisations with more than £25mln in funding, including for SatVU which helped develop the first Middle Wavelength Infra-Red satellite, launched in June 2023. It uses Earth observation data to gain insights into building emissions that improve customer energy use and reduce emissions.

Northumbria University has used its funding to build a minaturised laser-optical-communications terminal that could support future satellite constellations and space-science missions.