Government grants worth up to £15,000 each will help UK
companies get their ideas for space-based technologies or research
off the ground.
The call for Grants for Exploratory Ideas, part of the National
Space Technology Programme aims to fund short, three-month long
projects that support innovative space technology activities,
encourage collaboration between industry and academia, and
encourage new entrants to the space sector.
Projects could include knowledge transfer, skills development,
market studies, and proof of concepts for space technology. The
UK Space Agency is encouraging those who are new to space
technology to participate in the call. Established businesses,
non-profits and academics are also welcome to apply.
Charles McCausland, Head of Major Projects and Technology
Development, UK Space Agency, said:
As we recover from the impact of the pandemic, this programme
will play an important role in nurturing new collaborations and
supporting early-stage ideas which have the power to grow the
space sector, create jobs and strengthen the UK’s position in
the global space market.
Since launching in 2011, the NSTP has supported 277 projects.
Previous successful applicants include London-based Rocket
Engineering, which invented a magnetic propulsion system the size
of a can of coffee, allowing spacecraft to manoeuvre more
efficiently in orbit.
Northumberland’s NORSS developed and tested a data processing
pipeline that could use a novel electro-optical camera system to
process Low Earth Orbit Space Surveillance and Tracking data, an
improvement upon slower conventional radar observations.
Figures released by the UK
Space Agency in May show strong growth in the UK space
sector. Income rising from £14.8 billion in 2016/17 to £16.4
billion in 2018/19, representing a growth of 5.7 per cent in real
terms, while employment is up by 3,200 from 41,900 to 45,100.
Research and development spending rose 18 per cent in real terms
from £595 million in 2016/17 to £702 million in 2018/19.
