Funding Flash March 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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Solent Freeport: Feasibility Study into Space Focused Infrastructure
Deadline: Wednesday, 25th March 2026
Portsmouth City Council on behalf of the Solent Freeport, as its accountable body, is seeking to appoint a suitably qualified and experienced organisation to undertake a comprehensive feasibility study exploring the potential need, viability, optimal operating model, and most suitable location for space focused infrastructure.
This should include but not be limited to a Centre of Excellence for Electric Propulsion, Satellite Manufacturing or Satellite Communications in the Solent region. The outcomes of this study will inform future decision making, investment planning, and partnership development within the region.
Read more here.
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Rural Transportation Networks
Deadline: Wednesday, 1st April 2026
This opportunity invites business to submit proposals for space-based applications and services that support rural transportation networks.
Selected studies can access 75% funding by the European Space Agency, up to €75 000 per activity.
Read more here.
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UK Space Agency C-LEO Call 2: ARTES Only
Deadline: Monday, 13th April 2026
This is a defined Call, with up to £30,000,000 of UK Space Agency funding being made available, with individual applications for UK Space Agency funding expected to be a minimum of £3,000,000.
Each funded project will have a lower threshold that will need to be met for the project to be eligible for funding. The lower threshold has been put in place to ensure we are able to support large scale, ambitious projects that meet the programme objective to accelerate industrialisation of the satellite communication sector in the UK.
All projects must include a compelling element of matched funding to be eligible under the programme. Further details on matched funding and other eligibility requirements are contained in the guidance document.
Read more here.
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Sustainable Wetlands
Deadline: Friday, 1st May 2026
This opportunity invites businesses to submit proposals for space-based applications and services that support wetland sustainability while delivering economically viable business cases. Selected studies can access 75% funding from the European Space Agency, with a maximum of €75,000 per activity.
Read more here.
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ESA Phi-Lab
Deadline: Friday, 15th May 2026
The ESA Phi‑Lab UK funds and supports cutting‑edge research projects that bridge early‑stage research and commercialisation, accelerating disruptive, market‑ready innovation in the space sector.
The programme focuses on space‑enabled sustainability technologies, supporting projects aligned with its three pillars: Environmental Sustainability, Space Sustainability and Space Resilience.
Read more here.
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Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) Open Call for Innovation
Deadline: Wednesday, 1st July 2026
The Open Call is looking for innovative ideas to improve the defence and security of the UK. Your idea could be a concept, product or service, at various levels of maturity.
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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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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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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ESA Proposal Advice Service
Deadline: Open Until Further Notice
The ESA Proposal Advice Service (ESA PAS) is a UK Space Agency-funded pilot programme designed to help UK-based organisations improve the quality of their proposals submitted to the European Space Agency (ESA). The service provides free, non-technical advice to organisations who are preparing ESA bids and want to strengthen their applications before submission.
ESA PAS focuses on improving the clarity, structure, and strategic alignment of proposals by identifying common errors and areas for improvement. The aim is to increase the competitiveness of UK bids without providing engineering or technical solutions. Feedback is tailored to the five evaluation criteria used by ESA: background and expertise, understanding of requirements and objectives, quality of the proposed programme of work, adequacy of management, costing and planning, and compliance with administrative tender conditions.
Find out 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.
