GovWire

Programme Overview

As part of the governments plan to make the UK a science and technology superpower, the National Space Strategy sets the ambition to use space to deliver for UK citizens and the world. Unlocking Space for Business will play a key role in enabling this ambition, through the delivery of a range of government initiatives to support the realisation of business, operational and environmental benefits from innovative uses of satellite data and services. Initiatives will include:

• information hub: access to insights on how businesses in the financial services, and transport and logistics sectors can unlock value from satellites, with examples of activity from across the world
• insight and networking events: hosted interactive events that bring the customer and supplier ecosystems together to shape opportunity areas, hear from experts, experience live demonstrations and build new connections. Sign up to keep updated for future events
• exploration workshops: dedicated advisory support and expertise through a series of focused workshops to help businesses identify and develop satellite data and service opportunities. Sign up and register your interest in attending an Exploration Workshop
• learning and development: the programme is now accepting registrations for our learning and development programme, which will be held throughout the first half of 2024. The initial sessions are for those in the Financial Services or Transport and Logistics sectors in alignment with the programmes strategic objectives. If you are in either of these sectors and want to find out how to implement innovative solutions using space-derived data in a series of tailored sessions, register to secure your spot
  • the programme is also planning a dedicated series of sessions later in the year, tailored specifically for suppliers and integrators of space data. Once confirmed, these sessions will be promoted in the Unlocking Space for Business Newsletter and on this page
  • an overview of all sessions will be available once they have concluded
• funding call: apply for a share of up to 6 million of government funding to help launch innovative pilot projects and the delivery of new satellite data and service opportunities. Funded projects will have opportunities to share their successes and learnings through government showcases. Our Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI) competition has now closed, sign up for updates and information on future funding opportunities in 2024

Important information for participants

• Unlocking Space for Business aims to implement a number of customer-focused initiatives to support and enable greater awareness, engagement, learning and development and demand for satellite data and services. It is expected to run until March 2025, and funded projects must be completed within the 18-month lifetime
• As a new pilot programme, continuous learning and feedback is encouraged from participants of events, workshops and recipients of funding
• The focus areas for the programme are businesses within the Financial Services, and Transport & Logistics sectors
• The programme will be open to opportunities across all satellite domains (including satellite imagery, satellite connectivity and communications, satellite position, navigation and timing), in combination with complementary data types
• Funded projects should be targeting a tangible benefit to the UK, whether thats the realisation of benefits to UK businesses and citizens, or contributing to the growth of the UK space sector

Further information

Our privacy notice sets out how we will process personal data received through the sign up form for the Unlocking Space for Business Newsletter and upcoming events.

A live webinar took place on Monday 6 November to launch Unlocking Space for Business, looking at what the programme involves and how it could benefit you.

Unlocking Space for Business live launch webinar

If you would like any further information, have any questions or feedback about this programme, or would like to request the newsletter and events sign-up form in a different format, please contact the team at UnlockingSpaceforBusiness@ukspaceagency.gov.uk.

Unlocking Space for Business by the UK Space Agency.

Other UK Space Agency initiatives

Business Applications and Space Solutions Programme (BASS) (ARTES)

As part of the ARTES programme, the Business Applications and Space Solutions Programme (BASS), in partnership between the UK Space Agency and European Space Agency (ESA), is a commercially focussed space applications programme that delivers innovative uses of space assets and data.

Earth Observation

Find further details on open funding opportunities for earth observation projects.

Apply for funding: space-related R&D, innovation and education

Find further details on open funding opportunities from the UK Space Agency, the space sector, academic, education and community partners.