£34 million of a planned £65 million total in the next phase of funding for the National Space Innovation Programme (NSIP) has been announced by the UK Space Agency.
The executive agency — sponsored by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology — wants applications for work that will allow the UK’s space sector to tackle challenges such as the use of satellite data to combat climate change, or providing services to make in-orbit applications more sustainable.
The idea is to support 'high risk, high reward projects' designed by British organisations with the potential to accelerate the development of new space technologies and satellite applications. The Government wants these to result in and services and “novel and valuable commercial” space industry innovations.
Over $47 billion of private capital has been invested across the global space sector since 2015, with the UK accounting for 17% of this, making it the second most attractive destination for investment behind the US.
NSIP actually debuted in 2020 and has since provided UK organisations with over £25 million in funding, including satellite capture of Earth observation data and a new miniaturised laser optical communications terminal.
Higher gear
But this move moves the whole project into another gear, with £34 million now and the balance of a planned overall £65 million will be released in 2024 and 2025, with projects running until March 2027.
Commenting on the funding, George Freeman MP, minister for space at DSIT, said the UK’s 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”.
“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,” he added.
Dr Paul Bate, chief executive of the UK Space Agency, added, “The National Space Innovation Programme will support the UK’s most ambitious space technology projects and their potential to address real world challenges, to catalyse investment, deliver new missions and capabilities, and harness the power of space to improve lives.”
Funding will be split between major projects and kick starter funding that will provide targeted support to early stage and disruptive innovation.
The funding news comes ahead of the planned November UK Space Conference in Belfast.
