National Space Innovation Programme - Call 3

Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
Closing in 116 days

Funding

£150,000 – £2,000,000

Location

England

Applications

Open until 13 November 2026

Overview

NSIP Call 3 funds space-related research and development projects in England. There are two funding strands. Kick Starter supports early-stage, disruptive space innovations. Major Projects supports ideas closer to commercialisation and market growth. Grants range from £150,000 to £2,000,000. You must co-fund the project alongside the grant. The deadline to apply is 13 November 2026.

Eligibility

Who can apply:

limited companyacademicpublic sector

Key requirements:

  • Co-funding required alongside grant
  • Project must be space-related R&D
  • Must have a clear target market
Who is this for?

This grant is for UK businesses, universities, and research organisations working on space-related technology in England. It suits teams at any stage, from early innovation to near-commercial projects. It is not for projects outside the space sector.

Regions

Funder track record
Last published award 2025

Awards published

50,494

Typical award

£71,324

Most awards

£28,427 to £165,774

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).

This funder has made 50,494 awards with a typical award of £71,324. Would you qualify?

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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.

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Last updated: 20 July 2026