National Space Innovation Programme - Call 3
Funding
£150,000 – £2,000,000
Deadline
12 November 2026
Location
England
Applications
By invitation
Overview
The National Space Innovation Programme (NSIP) Call 3 is run by the UK Space Agency, part of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology. It offers co-funded grants for research and development projects in space-related technologies that have a clear target market. The aim is to catalyse investment into the UK space sector, raise Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs) and move ideas closer to commercial success. There are two strands. Kick Starter backs early-stage, highly disruptive ideas (TRL 1-4), and you can request between £150,000 and £1,000,000. Major Projects focuses on commercialisation and growth at higher TRLs (5-9), and you can request between £150,000 and £2,000,000. Projects can run for up to 30 months. Up to £20m is available, and the agency expects to award between 15 and 30 grants. Applications run in two stages. The call opened on 20 July 2026. The Outline Proposal deadline was 21 August 2026, and outline selection concluded on 5 October 2026. Only applicants who were successful at that stage are invited to submit a Full Proposal, and about 50 are expected to be invited. The Full Proposal deadline is 23:59 on 12 November 2026. The practical catch is that the outline stage has passed. You can only take part now if you have already been invited to submit a full proposal. Successful applicants will be told on 8 February 2027, and projects can start from 1 April 2027. The programme welcomes ideas from any part of the space sector. It particularly encourages proposals in these priority areas: Space Domain Awareness; In-Orbit Servicing, Assembly and Manufacturing; Assured Access to Space; and Satellite Communication Technology. Official source: https://www.find-government-grants.service.gov.uk/grants/national-space-innovation-programme---call-3-1. Last checked by GrantMatch on 15 October 2026.
Requirements to check
Who can apply:
Key requirements:
- Co-funded grant for UK-led space research and development projects
- Kick Starter: £150,000 to £1,000,000 for early-stage projects (TRL 1-4)
- Major Projects: £150,000 to £2,000,000 for higher TRL projects (5-9)
- Maximum project duration of 30 months
- Full Proposal stage is by invitation only after outline selection
- Lead organisation must be UK-based with a UK bank account
Projects must be led by a UK organisation that receives the grant. This can be a university-led academic project or an industry-led commercial project. The lead organisation needs a UK bank account and must show it can manage a project. All project members must have anti-bribery and anti-corruption policies, show GDPR compliance and have a process for managing conflicts of interest. Projects cannot work in areas of active conflict. Non-domestic partners can join if they bring their own funding. All projects must pass due diligence checks, including national security.
This summary may not include every exclusion. Check the full eligibility rules, including who and what the funder will not support.
UK-led organisations, including universities, research organisations and industry, that have already been invited to submit a Full Proposal for a space technology R&D project.
Regions
Awards published
30,043
Typical award
£62,476
Most awards
£25,530 to £143,021
Most funded region
London
53 awards in 2025, down from 6,337 the year before.
Recent awards include University of Manchester (£160,000, 2025), University of Sheffield (£160,000, 2025) and University of Wolverhampton (£160,000, 2025).
Contains data from 360Giving publishers, used under open licence.
Full details from Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
The National Space Innovation Programme (NSIP) provides co-funded grant support to derisk high-reward R&D projects with a clear target market. NSIP operates open funding calls for all space-related technologies under two strands: NSIP Kick Starter that supports highly disruptive early-stage innovations, and NSIP Major Projects which emphasizes commercialisation and growth of particularly lucrative ideas from UK businesses, universities and research organisations. NSIP Call 3 will expand the NSIP portfolio of innovative R&D projects that meet the programme’s objectives to: catalyse investment into the UK space sector, capture market growth, raise Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs) of priority space capabilities, and position space activities closer to commercialisation and exploitation.
Applications are made through the online Flexigrant portal, and you need to register before you submit. The process has two stages: an Outline Proposal, then a Full Proposal for those invited. Industry applicants are limited to one proposal per lead organisation per strand. Universities and research organisations can submit up to three per strand. Questions can be sent to UKSA.NSIP@dsit.gov.uk.
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Create free accountLast updated: 15 October 2026