Funding Flash October 2025
Each month, Space South Central aims to bring together a curated list of the latest and best funding opportunities for businesses working in the space sector across the South East.
The list is not exhaustive – for that, see the Satellite Applications Catapult’s Space Enterprise Network.
If you see an opportunity below that could be suitable for your business, reach out to the team at info@spacesouthcentral.com, who will offer advice, expertise, support and connections to help you create successful bids. Since 2016, we have helped regional organisations secure over £37.5M.
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Unlocking the full potential of nature-based engineering
Deadline: Thursday, 23rd October 2025
Apply for funding to conduct research in nature-based engineering, defined in EPSRC’s Tomorrow’s Engineering Research Challenges report as developing systems and technologies inspired by nature.
You must be based at a UK research organisation eligible for Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) funding. Teams must include two or more researchers from different areas and at least one early career researcher (ECR) or postdoctoral research assistant (PDRA), or both.
Read more here.
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Green hydrogen as a sustainable energy source
Deadline: Monday, 6th November 2025
This Invitation to Tender invites proposals for feasibility studies for services that explore innovative uses of space technology to advance green hydrogen as a sustainable energy source. This study aims to leverage satellite communication (SatCom), satellite Earth observation (SatEO), and satellite navigation (SatNav) to support green hydrogen production, storage, and distribution.
Read more here.
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Access to high performance computing facilities: autumn 2025
Deadline: Monday, 6th November 2025
This opportunity provides an open and flexible route to computational support for high quality projects across the entire UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) remit.
We particularly encourage applications that:
involve early career researchers
onboard and train new users
significantly push the boundaries in computational research using high performance computing (HPC) in your field
Read more here.
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Pushing the frontiers of environmental research: January 2026
Deadline: Wednesday, 21st January 2026
Apply for funding to pursue an ambitious, high risk and high reward curiosity-driven project in environmental research.
You must be:
based at a UK research organisation eligible for Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) funding
in a role that meets the individual eligibility requirements
They welcome:
multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary research
projects delivered in partnership with other research funders and users
The full economic cost (FEC) of your project can be up to £950,000. We will fund 80% of the FEC.
There is no defined project duration, but awards are usually between three and four years.
Read more here.
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Bioengineering in the Space Environment
Deadline: Open Until Further Notice
The primary objective of this Invitation to Tender is to support industry in assessing the potential of bioengineering in microgravity environments, addressing market requirements from various industries, including but not limited to pharmaceuticals, materials science, healthcare, food and nutrients, assessing the customer demand and developing value propositions that resonate with customers and are embedded in profitable business models.
This initiative centres on the advancement of bioengineering through the unique conditions offered by space, particularly the microgravity environment.
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 the UK's public funding portfolio.
Read more here.
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Made Smarter
Deadline: Open Until Further Notice
The "Made Smarter" program offers funding and support to UK manufacturers, particularly SMEs, to help them adopt digital technologies and improve their operations. This includes match-funded grants of up to 50% (with a maximum of £20,000) for equipment and/or advice to implement projects, as well as access to digital technology advice and workforce development
Read more here.
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Cyber security consultancy support, plus assessment and certification
Deadline: Open Until Further Notice
The threat to space is real and coming increasingly closer to the UK space industry as attempted breaches have demonstrated.
Demonstrating a commitment to security is critical to the ongoing success of any business.
Ensuring secure, robust and recoverable services and services can provide a competitive advantage in the marketplace and avoids unnecessary costly retrofitting.
Successful applicants can receive up to 3 days consultation from a cyber security professional funded by the UK Space Agency. This can be virtual or at a place of business (UK) depending on requirements.
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. They 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 welcome.
Read more here.
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Navigation Innovation Support Programme (NavISP)
Deadline: Open Until Further Notice
Since 2017, the UK has invested €50 million into NavISP to support the UK space PNT sector to innovate the next generation of space-enabled and space-supported navigation products, services and applications.
The UK investment in the programme is available to support UK organisations to undertake technology research and development focused on commercial innovation
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.
