Opportunities for region as government unveils £99m UK space boost
Space Minister Liz Lloyd announced a £99 million package of UK space sector investment at the start of this week (Mon 20 Jul) – and Space South Central will be backing bids from organisations across Hampshire, Surrey and the Isle of Wight.
Monday’s announcement – on the first day of Farnborough International Airshow – revealed a range of funding opportunities from the Connectivity in Low Earth Orbit (C-LEO) Programme (£42 million), the National Space Innovation Programme (NSIP) (£20 million) and the Space Clusters Infrastructure Fund (SCIF) (£37 million).
Space South Central’s Business Development Manager, Dan Smith: “Monday’s announcement presents exciting opportunities for our region and underlines the importance of the space sector in driving UK innovation and growth.
“Every year, our cluster team supports dozens of organisations of all shapes and sizes to secure funding and investment – and Space South Central businesses and universities are perfectly placed to benefit from the government packages announced today.
“While we’ve already identified some organisations and projects for potential bids, we’re keen to speak to cluster companies and academics to explore ideas that may be eligible for this new raft of investment.”
The C-LEO Programme is offering £42 million to UK businesses, universities and research organisations to develop new satellite communications technologies. Projects must focus on one or more of five areas: on-board processing, active antennas, optical links, networking and routing, or user terminals.
The £20 million call from NSIP aims to fuel space innovation, supporting the development of all areas of space technologies across UK industry and academia. Funding is available through two routes: Kick Starter, for early-stage ideas, and Major Projects, for businesses looking to grow and commercialise. Up to 40% of the project budgets awarded will focus on Space Domain Awareness and In-Space Assembly and Manufacturing – two areas where UK domestic capability is vital to understand and respond to threats in orbit.
Opening this autumn, the SCIF funding call will award £37 million in grants by 2030, strengthening regional space infrastructure and capabilities, reducing dependence on international partners for access to critical space assets. Organisations interested in applying are encouraged to register their interest before the full call opens later this year.
Commenting on the government’s aims behind the funding, Space Minister, Liz Lloyd, said: “Strengthening domestic capability in these areas, alongside working with international partners, will help ensure the UK remains secure, resilient and a leader on the world stage.”
Space Minister Liz Lloyd at Farnborough International Airshow 2026.
Space South Central support available
Your regional space cluster team is here to help you secure funding and investment, from exploring initial ideas, opportunities and eligibility criteria, to connecting you with prospective partners, reviewing bids and writing letters of recommendation.
Support is available to any space-related business or organisation within Hampshire, Surrey and the Isle of Wight – simply sign-up for your FREE Cluster Membership , and we’ll be in touch.
Keep up to date with the latest cluster news and funding opportunities by signing up to our monthly Newsletter and Funding Flash.
For more information or to discuss the funding opportunities announced today, contact our Business Development Manager, Dan Smith, at dan.smith1@port.ac.uk.
