The UK Space Agency is launching a £20 million fund to support
international partnerships that will harness the UK’s national
strengths, support new space capabilities and catalyse
investment.
Up to £2 million will initially be available from the
International Bilateral Fund (IBF) to help strengthen the space
sector’s partnerships with other space nations, with further
funding to be made available over the next two years, it was
announced on the opening day of the Space Symposium conference in
the US (17 April 2023).
The IBF is the UK Space Agency’s first dedicated fund focused on
building and strengthening the UK’s relationships with
strategically important international partners and partners from
emerging space nations.
The funding is available to industry, academia and research
organisations to work with international partners on projects
that could help, for example, bring new services to market or
support cutting-edge research.
Minister of State at the Department of Science, Innovation and
Technology, , said:
The global commercial space tech sector is growing fast creating
big opportunities for the UK to convert our longstanding space
science excellence into a fast-growing commercial industry.
That’s why we set out a commitment in our 10-year National Space
Strategy to make the UK one of the world’s most innovative and
attractive space economies - through our £2 billion public
investment and through deepening international partnerships in
areas like Earth observation, space debris and space traffic
control.
Backed by £20 million in government funding, these international
partnerships will boost our commercial and scientific endeavours
as we work with some of the world’s most dynamic space economies,
creating more jobs and generating investment in the UK.
This first tranche of funding will support approximately 30
projects, with up to £75,000 each, which will be overseen by the
UK Space Agency in collaboration with the Science and Technology
Facilities Council (STFC).
These projects will build relationships between UK organisations
and international counterparts and stimulate knowledge exchange,
engagement and collaboration.
Successful phase one proposals could then secure a second tranche
of IBF funding, where up to £1.5 million will be available for a
period of 12 months to catalyse innovation across international
partnerships.
Dr Paul Bate, Chief Executive of the UK Space Agency, said:
Successful international partnerships support our work to
catalyse investment, deliver new missions and capabilities, and
champion the power of space to improve lives.
This new fund will help unlock cross-border innovation, promote
the exchange of knowledge, and strengthen the UK space sector’s
relationships with strategic partners. Together we can maximise
the vast potential of space to benefit people and businesses on
Earth.
The UK Space Agency is particularly interested in proposals
involving the USA, Canada, Australia and Japan, but will consider
strong proposals from elsewhere in the world.
The call is due to close at noon on 9 June 2023. Find out more information
and apply.
