The UK Space Agency has announced the availability of up to £65 million of funding for projects aimed at boosting UK leadership in space technologies and applications.

The agency said the new National Space Innovation Programme (NSIP) will support “high-risk, high-reward” projects designed by British organisations with the potential to accelerate the development of new space technologies, satellite applications, and services.

It added that the programme provides an opportunity for the UK space sector to develop “novel and valuable commercial innovations” that could tackle challenges such as the use of satellite data to combat climate change or providing services to make in-orbit applications more sustainable.

The first funding tranche of up to £34 million is now open to proposals, with remaining funding to be split across further calls in 2024 and 2025 and with projects running until March 2027.

“Our space sector is constantly advancing thanks to pioneering new ideas from our world-class scientists and technologists that push the potential of British innovation at its best,” said George Freeman, minister for space at the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology. “Investing in these projects not only bolsters the UK’s seat at the table of the global space community, but it unlocks future business and job opportunities that will accelerate the growth of our nation’s £17.5 billion space sector.”

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