Funding Flash: June 2024
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 £36.5M.
Women in Innovation Awards
Deadline: Wednesday, 10th July 2024
Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation, is offering up to 50 Women in Innovation Awards to women entrepreneurs within SMEs across the UK. The winners will receive a £75,000 grant and bespoke business support.
The aim of this competition is to fund and support a diverse portfolio of Women in Innovation Award winners:
- who will be relatable role models for women from all backgrounds from regions across the UK
- who are solving a range of pressing societal, environmental and economic challenges
- in a variety of innovation areas
This opportunity aims to support women who are at a critical stage with their business, where an award will enable them to take an important step forward.
The funding should help you make a real difference to innovation in the UK including in and beyond your sector or innovation area.
Read more here.
Farming Futures: Nutrient Management Phase 1 - Industrial Research
Deadline: Wednesday, 24th July 2024
UK registered businesses can apply for a share of up to £15 million across the two strands of this competition, to develop innovative solutions for nutrient management. This funding is from the Farming Futures R&D Fund.
The aim of this competition is to fund collaborative development projects with ambitious solutions to address the challenges related to nutrient management in soils and water associated with agricultural livestock and crop production. The solutions provided will enable sustainable and resilient farming.
For more information on the scope and eligibility click here.
Commercial Applications of Space-enabled Robotics: Energy and Utilities
Deadline: Tuesday, 23rd June 2024
This call invites proposals for Feasibility Studies and Demonstration Projects for services that combine the use of satellite technologies and robotics for downstream services for energy and utilities.
‘Robotics’ is here defined to include physical robots, autonomous drones, machines and vehicles, and precursory solutions or those that enable these (e.g. perception and navigation systems for autonomous systems, connectivity solutions to enable tele-operated robotics).
More information is available on the ESA webpage here.
Knowledge Assets Grant Fund
Deadline: Thursday, 12th September 2024
The Knowledge Assets Grant Fund supports organisations across the public sector in the UK to explore exciting new uses of datasets, technology, intellectual property, ideas, and expertise.
Funding is available for use in supporting the development, repurposing, commercialisation or expanded use of public sector knowledge assets.
UK government public sector organisations with an Accounting Officer responsible for upholding Managing Public Money (MPM) can apply.
This includes:
- UK central government departments
- arm’s-length bodies
- public sector research establishments
It excludes:
- local government organisations
- NHS secondary and tertiary care sectors (such as NHS trusts)
- publicly owned commercial organisations
Total funding: £5 million this financial year.
Maximum award: up to £250,000 (3 different grant values available).
You can find more details here.
Maritime Decarbonisation
Deadline: Friday, 28th February 2025
In recent years, there have been significant efforts to enhance fuel efficiency on various fronts, such route optimisation or hull and propeller design. However, achieving net-zero goals requires a profound transformation of the sector, where space assets are poised to play an integral role. This transformation is not only prompted by societal and economic pressures, but it is also underpinned by the release of several long-awaited regulatory frameworks from European and International maritime authorities.
This call for proposals, issued under the ARTES BASS programme line, is aimed at supporting the development of sustainable space-based services and applications that address challenges related to the decarbonisation of the maritime industry. Additionally, the call seeks to assist the maritime sector in adapting to and complying with new European and international regulatory frameworks.
There are details of all sub-themes, scope and eligibility criteria here.
Innovate UK (DoIT)
Deadline: Wednesday, 17th July 2024
Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation, will work with the Department of Industrial Technology (DoIT) to invest up to £5 million in innovation projects.
The aim of this competition is to fund collaborative research and development (CR&D) projects focused on industrial research. Your proposal must include at least one partner from the UK and one partner from Taiwan.
Read more here.
