UK businesses can now apply for a share of up to £14.7 million in funding from the UK Space Agency.
This will unlock new opportunities to develop cutting-edge space technology and strengthen the UK’s industrial capability.
The funding is available through the European Space Agency’s (ESA) General Support Technology Programme (GSTP), its flagship programme for maturing new space technologies from early-stage research to flight-ready demonstration.
Lord David Willetts, Chair of the UK Space Agency, stated: “We are very pleased to be providing this further funding for new technologies across the space sector.
“The evidence shows this programme provides a real boost to individual companies and the wider economy.”
Funding brings significant economic and technological benefits
This call follows strong industry demand and new evidence that UK participation in the General Support Technology Programme (GSTP) is delivering significant economic and technological benefits.
The UK has been involved in the programme for more than 30 years and committed £46m at ESA’s 2025 Ministerial Council, helping organisations develop critical home-grown space technologies, compete internationally, and secure future work from ESA and commercial markets.
A UK Space Agency impact analysis of 44 GSTP projects (31% of funding, 2019–2024) found strong benefits for UK industry, especially SMEs.
The sample also generated £24.6m in additional revenue, delivered a 116% return on public investment, and created 113 new jobs, the majority of which were within SMEs. Many participating companies also attracted private investment.
UK space technology is competing on an international scale
GSTP funding is helping UK companies scale and compete internationally with their advanced space technology.
Bristol-based SME iCOMAT used the programme to demonstrate an advanced composite manufacturing process for spacecraft structures.
The company developed a prototype that was 25% lighter and 30% stronger than conventional designs, boosting its credibility, attracting customers, and enabling £18m in private investment.
Space Forge has also benefited, using GSTP support to develop a reusable re-entry heat shield, a key technology for returning high-value materials manufactured in space.
The funding enabled design, prototyping, and early testing ahead of flight trials, helping the company secure £12.3m in private investment, build a UK supply chain, and create 20 skilled jobs.
Collaboration and partnerships at the heart of UK space technologies
The analysis also shows that GSTP is strengthening collaboration across the UK space sector.
Nearly three-quarters (73%) of organisations formed new partnerships through the programme, including valuable links between SMEs and major system integrators.
Moreover, innovation levels were consistently high: 90% of SME-led projects developed novel technologies, while 72% identified applications beyond the space sector.
Overall, the programme supported 23 space technologies unique to the UK, with several expected to be first-of-their-kind in Europe or even globally.
Maximising value and capabilities
Demand for GSTP funding has grown rapidly, with the UK’s previous allocation fully committed ahead of schedule and no new calls since March 2024.
The new £7m call, part of the wider £14.7m package, is expected to be strongly welcomed by industry. Updated rules will introduce co-funding requirements and a fixed-value framework to maximise value for money while continuing to support strategically important capabilities.
Alongside this, a separate call will invite UK organisations to bid for £7.7m in fully funded ESA space technology contracts.
These opportunities are open to organisations of all sizes, including universities and non-space companies, helping to broaden participation and secure high-value ESA work for the UK.