Funding Flash August 2026
Your monthly Funding Flash is here, bringing together the latest grants, loans and funding programmes from across the UK and Europe, carefully curated by Space South Central to save you time and help you focus on what matters most.
As the space cluster for the South-Central region, we combine sector insight with hands‑on expertise to help you access the support you need to accelerate innovation and growth. Since 2016, we’ve supported organisations in securing over £39M in funding, and we are ready to support you too.
If something catches your eye, get in touch at info@spacesouthcentral.com for guidance on shaping a strong and competitive bid.
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Expression of Interest: Space Clusters Infrastructure Fund - Call 2
Deadline: Friday 21st August 2026
Building on the success of the SCIF Pilot programme, which supported 13 projects across the UK, the next round of SCIF will issue at least £37 million in grant funding for infrastructure projects that help grow the UK’s space capabilities, unlock investment, create high-value jobs, scale businesses, strengthen supply chains and enable technologies to progress from development through to commercial deployment.
Underpinned by the space cluster network, the programme ensures that the collaboration between academia, industry, investors and local government delivers local economic prosperity and supports national security ambitions.
Read more here.
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National Space Innovation Programme – Call 3
Deadline: Friday 21st August 2026
The UK Space Agency invites proposals for UK-based research and development projects that will deliver innovative space technologies, applications and services through the National Space Innovation Programme (NSIP). NSIP provides co-funded grant support to de-risk high-reward projects with a clear target market.
NSIP operates open funding calls under two schemes, NSIP Kick Starter and NSIP Major Projects, which combined provide end-to-end support for innovation from concept to commercialisation.
Read more here.
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Earth Observation InCubed funding call
Deadline: Friday 21st August 2026
The UK Space Agency, in partnership with the European Space Agency (ESA), is running a new call for proposals for the InCubed (Investing in Industrial Innovation) programme. InCubed is a co-funded Earth Observation programme designed to support the development and de-risking of innovative and commercially viable products and services, acting as a final step towards commercialisation rather than a research activity.
Read more here.
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Defence and National Security Innovation Exchange (iX) - call for Challenge Holders
Deadline: Friday 28th August 2026
The Innovate UK Defence and National Security Innovation Exchange (iX) provide grant funding to help solve challenges for businesses operating within the defence and/or national security supply chain. Awards will be up to £60,000 per challenge partnership.
Read more here.
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UKDI Security Open Call 2026 Cycle 1
Deadline: Friday 28th August 2026
The Security Open Call is a competition which UK Defence Innovation (UKDI) runs to find proposals that address security challenges faced by government stakeholders.
Read more here.
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Digitalisation of the water sector
Deadline: Sunday, 30th August 2026
Today, the world faces a defining challenge: how to manage too much, too little or too polluted water in the face of growing populations, climate change and strained infrastructure. Among these pressures, water sanitation has emerged as one the most urgent global concerns. The impacts of climate change, growing demand and the depletion of natural resources call for a paradigm shift in how water service providers, water management authorities, regions, cities and citizens manage and protect water. Society must develop and increase the adoption of innovative solutions to ensure water sustainability and resilience across all societal functions, while fully safeguarding the environment. Strengthening sanitation systems, preventing pollution and improving wastewater treatment are essential steps, but achieving this requires tools that allow for better monitoring, enforcement and long-term planning.
Read more here.
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Earth Observation Missions and Technology Innovation Call 1
Deadline: Tuesday 1st September 2026
The UK Space Agency invites proposals for UK-based research and development projects to develop innovative Earth Observation (EO) technologies through the EO Missions and Technology (EOMT) Innovation Call 1. Proposals should align with the objectives of the UK National Space Strategy, and we particularly encourage applications for innovative, early Technology Readiness Level (TRL) projects supporting climate monitoring, the environment, dual use and commercial applications.
Read more here.
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Digital enablers and building-blocks for Earth Observation and Satellite Telecommunication for Space Solutions
Deadline: Thursday, 3rd September 2026
The topic encompasses actions within the scope of the co-programmed European Partnership on Globally Competitive Space Systems (‘Space Partnership’) in the areas of satellite communication (SatCom), Earth Observation (EO) and New Commercial Space Transportation Solutions and is part of cohesive activities in the domain of digital developments under the grand heading of “digitalisation for commercial space solutions”.
For more information on Horizon funding calls contact Elizabeth Clutton:elizabeth.clutton@port.ac.uk.
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Scientific analysis and exploitation of space data
Deadline: Thursday, 3rd September 2026
The aim of this Horizon Europe topic is the analysis (including validation) and exploitation of acquired and available data provided by scientific and exploration instruments and missions in their pre-operative, operative, post-operative or data exploitation phase, focusing on astronomy and astrophysics, cosmology, heliophysics, deep space and solar system exploration, ensuring complementarity with activities already supported by agencies during development phases. Such data may also originate from CubeSat and small satellite missions for advancing space science and exploration.
More specifically, data to be analysed are expected to result from science and exploration missions (including cubesat to small satellite missions) from ESA, national space agencies, research organisations and universities missions. Earth observing missions are not considered in the scope of this topic. This analysis may require innovative and advanced data processing techniques, the use of advanced artificial intelligence techniques, novel statistical approaches, multidimensional data fusion while optimizing the use of advanced computing hardware architectures, as well as novel data (re)presentation and visualization techniques.
For more information on Horizon funding calls contact Elizabeth Clutton:elizabeth.clutton@port.ac.uk.
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Connectivity in Low Earth Orbit (C-LEO) Programme - Call 3
Deadline: Monday 7th September 2026
The satellite communications sector is undergoing rapid transformation, driven by the emergence of high-volume constellations and the need for scalable, resilient infrastructure. To remain competitive, UK industry must accelerate the development and industrialisation of key technologies such as regenerative processing, networking and routing, active antennas, optical links, and advanced user terminals.
Read more here.
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Advancing atmospheric and aerial autonomy
Deadline: Wednesday 21st October 2026
Apply for proof-of-concept funding to develop, integrate, deploy, and demonstrate innovative autonomous solutions for atmospheric science or autonomous aerial systems for environmental applications. Projects must deliver demonstrator capability, high-quality environmental data, and pathways towards wider use and adoption.
Read more here.
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EIC Pathfinder
Deadline: Wednesday, 28th October
The EIC Pathfinder is a funding programme under Horizon Europe that offers support to research teams by:
funding research to develop the scientific basis to underpin breakthrough technologies
supporting the earliest stages of scientific, technological or deep-tech R&D
aiming to build on new, cutting-edge directions in science and technology to disrupt a field and a market or create new opportunities
realising innovative technological solutions to identify, develop and scale up breakthrough technologies and disruptive innovations in Europe
Read more here.
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UK Innovation & Science Seed Fund
Deadline: Open Until Further Notice
UKI2S invests in innovations emerging from the UK’s publicly funded science and knowledge base. We specialise in engineering biology, defence & security, fusion energy, and space to facilitate sustainable growth, enhance the health and security of society, improve productivity, and deliver economic gains emerging from UK’s public funding portfolio.
Read more here.
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Solent Freeport and Solent Growth Partnership Apprenticeship Incentive
Deadline: Open Until Further Notice
Solent Freeport, in partnership with the Solent Growth Partnership through the Solent Business Growth Service, has launched a new £50,000 Apprenticeship Incentive Programme designed to help small and medium-sized businesses across the Solent region recruit an apprentice for the first time, while supporting young people who have previously been not in education, employment or training (NEET).
The programme offers financial incentives of up to £2,000 per apprentice to eligible employers, alongside tailored business support, helping to reduce recruitment barriers, strengthen local skills pipelines and support inclusive economic growth across the Solent.
Read more here.
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Cyber security consultancy support, plus assessment and certification
Deadline: Open Until Further Notice
UK-based SMEs involved in space sector activity (less than 250 employee headcount) with a manufacturing or operational presence in the UK (includes NI). Applications from micro/start-up businesses are particularly welcomed.
Read more here.
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General Support Technology Programme (GSTP)
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.
Read more here.
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National Security Strategic Investment Fund
Deadline: Open Until Further Notice
NSSIF is a partnership between the NS&D community and the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) that backs breakthrough technologies that strengthen our collective security and defence. We invest in early-stage companies, align government demand with start-up supply, and help founders scale with capital, contracts, and insight.
Read more here.
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ESA ITT
Deadline: Various
The latest list of open and intended ESA and non-ESA ITTs is now available and published on ESA STAR. This includes all contracts currently open for bids, as well as those in the intended phase prior to publication. All opportunities listed are accessible to UK companies, though some caveats may apply.
Read more here.
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Defence Sourcing Portals
The Defence Sourcing Portal (DSP) hosts all of MOD’s advertised requirements. You can tailor your notifications from DSP by selecting appropriate category codes.
Contracts Finder allows you to search for information about contracts worth over £12,000 (including VAT) with the government and its agencies.
Register for the Central Digital Platform Find a Tender to search and apply for high-value contracts in the UK’s public and utilities sectors. High-value contracts are usually above £139,688 including VAT.
MOD Acquisition Pipeline is a forward look of potential procurement activity and Framework Agreements at MOD.
