GovWire

The aim of the Unlocking Space for Business competition is to offer financial services and transport & logistics companies, alongside satellite data and service partners, the chance to apply for a share of up to 3.5 million, inclusive of VAT and subject to affordability, to trial new solutions that use satellite data and services to benefit their organisation.

Projects must provide benefit to an end-user business within either the Financial Services or Transport & Logistics sectors, and must have a positive economic benefit to end-users within the UK.

This grant call is targeting medium-to-high technology readiness level (TRL) solutions that can deliver a tangible end-user benefit within the 9-month maximum project duration.

Awarded projects are expected to start from July 2024 and must have fully completed by March 2025 with a maximum duration of 9 months.

Projects will involve one or more of the three types of commercial satellite data and services in combination with complementary terrestrial data and technologies (e.g. AI, machine learning, quantum, drones, geospatial data), which are:

• satellite imagery (earth observation)
• satellite connectivity and communications
• position, navigation & timing (PNT)

The Agency welcomes proposals that meet at least one of the Agency strategic objectives, which are:

• new revenue growth opportunities
• improved customer experiences
• enhanced decision-making capabilities
• environmental, social and governance (ESG) benefits

Applications are encouraged from companies within the financial services or transport & logistics sectors interested in piloting new solutions that use satellite data and services within their organisation to solve key challenges. Companies are expected to apply as a consortium with a satellite data or service supplier alongside any other relevant aggregator organisations needed to deliver their pilot project.

An online briefing event will be hosted by UK Space Agency on Wednesday 10 April 2024, 11am-11.45am BST with the aim of informing potential applicants about the Unlocking Space for Business Programme competition, including its scope, application process and timelines. The event provided an opportunity for potential applicants to ask questions about the competition.

Attachments

• Unlocking Space for Business Announcement of Opportunity HTML
• Grant Call Webinar Slides HTML
• FAQs HTML
• Annex A: Application Form
• Annex B: Subsidy Control
• Annex C: Short Form Model Grant Funding Agreement
• Annex D: Finance Sheet
• Annex E: Applicant Checklist
• Annex F: Scoring Criteria
• Annex G UKSA Overhead Policy
• Annex H Overhead Template