The UKSA’s National Space Innovation Programme (NSIP) will support “high-risk, high-reward” space projects designed by British organisations that can drive innovation, accelerate the route to market, and catalyse investment in the UK space sector.

The first tranche of up to £34 million in funding is now open to proposals for novel and commercially valuable space technologies, satellite applications, and related services. The remaining funding is set to be split across further calls in 2024 and 2025, with projects running until March 2027.

Since its pilot launch in 2020, NSIP has provided UK organisations with over £25 million in funding, including SatVu, which used the support to develop a Middle Wavelength Infra-red (MWIR) satellite. Cited as the first MWIR satellite and launched in June 2023, it uses Earth observation data to gain insights into building emissions that can improve energy use and reduce emissions.

Northumbria University, another recipient of NSIP funding, used the financing to design, test, and build a new miniaturised laser optical communications terminal to improve inter-satellite data sharing and support future space science missions.

Speaking on space tech and the new funding available, Dr Paul Bate, the UKSA’s chief executive, said: “In today’s interconnected world, space technologies have become critical to almost every aspect of our daily lives.

“The National Space Innovation Programme will support the UK’s most ambitious space technology projects and their potential to address real-world challenges, to catalyse investment, deliver new missions and capabilities, and harness the power of space to improve lives.”

George Freeman MP, minister for space at the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), also commented, saying: “Our space sector is constantly advancing thanks to pioneering new ideas from our world-class scientists and technologists that push the potential of British innovation at its best.

“Investing in these projects not only bolsters the UK’s seat at the table of the global space community, but it unlocks future business and job opportunities that will accelerate the growth of our nation’s £17.5 billion space sector.

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The upcoming £65 million is but the latest batch of funding in UKSA’s seemingly constant stream of financial backing, provided in a bid to further push forward the progress of the UK’s space industry.

Just last month, for instance, UKSA announced £15 million in funding targeted towards satellite Earth observation technologies. Days before that, UKSA and DSIT proposed a £160 million scheme to fund satellite communications development to boost broadband connectivity and 5G coverage.

Despite such investment, a recently published report commissioned by UKSA and DSIT found that the UK’s space sector is being “throttled” by the ongoing skills gap. Specifically, over half (52%) of space organisations reported skills gaps in their current workforce, with over two-thirds (71%) of those with gaps describing the subsequent impacts as “major” or “moderate.”

In particular, software and data skills are the most sought after, with 72% of organisations having a gap in these technical areas — much higher than electronics design (43%) and systems engineering (39%). Further, half of organisations expect that their space skill needs will differ in three years’ time, with 81% of these respondents expecting they will need yet more software and data skills.