Unlocking Space for Business: Environmental Intelligence & Emissions
UK Space Agency grant call (£2M pot, up to £400k per project, 9 months) for UK end-user businesses leading a consortium with a UK space supplier to pilot space-enabled environmental intelligence and emissions solutions. Closes 11 December 2026 at 16:00 GMT.
- Funding
- £250k-£1m
- Up to £400,000 grant per project (total project costs may be higher with match funding); max 9 months
- Closes
- 11 December 2026
- Applicants
- Collaborative
- A UK-registered, Companies House non-space end-user business, including an SME, must lead the consortium.
What this competition funds
- Pilots of space-enabled data and services for environmental intelligence and emissions.
- Projects using Earth observation (EO), satellite communications (SatCom) or positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) capabilities.
- Development from technology readiness level (TRL) 5 or above to TRL 7.
- Projects lasting no more than nine months, with grants of up to £400,000 per project and total project costs potentially higher through match funding.
Who can apply?
- Lead applicant
- A UK-registered, Companies House non-space end-user business, including an SME, must lead the consortium.
- Partners and collaborators
- The consortium must include at least one UK space supplier offering EO, SatCom or PNT capabilities. Integrators may also participate.
- Worth checking
- UK-wide. Target end-user sectors include financial services, insurance, asset management, energy, utilities, infrastructure, agriculture, land management and environmental services. Confirm detailed eligibility and assessment requirements in the official brief.
What assessors look for
01
End-user need and challenge
Define the environmental intelligence or emissions problem faced by the lead business. Show how the pilot will address a specific operational decision or information gap.
02
Innovation and space-enabled capability
Explain what EO, SatCom or PNT contributes beyond the end user's current approach. Evidence the starting TRL of at least 5 and describe what reaching TRL 7 will demonstrate.
03
Impact and value for money
Set measurable pilot outcomes relevant to environmental intelligence or emissions. Connect the requested grant and any match funding to those outcomes, explaining the basis for the funding rate used.
04
Delivery and consortium capability
Set out clear responsibilities for the end-user lead, UK space supplier and any integrators. Use milestones to show how the consortium will deliver and validate the pilot within nine months.
Where applications usually lose marks
- A technology-led proposal that does not explain the lead end user's environmental intelligence or emissions need.
- An unsupported starting TRL or no credible route to TRL 7 within the maximum nine-month project duration.
- A budget that assumes full grant coverage or a collaboration uplift without checking the applicable subsidy conditions in the official brief.
How GrantUp can help
Our specialist bid writers build the scoring case, budget and narrative with you, with an over 82% success rate per engagement and over £190m secured for clients. Grant funding engagements have a minimum upfront setup fee starting from £1,750, plus a success fee payable on award. The scope and success fee are agreed before work starts. We do not take equity.
This competition is also covered by GrantPartner. GrantPartner is a paid six month grant programme with the cost spread in monthly payments, a rolling portfolio of bids and a success fee on award. If no funding is awarded during the programme, we extend it.
Discuss this grantFrequently asked questions
How much funding is available?
Grants are up to £400,000 per project from a total pot of up to £2 million. Funding rates follow the RDI Streamlined Subsidy Scheme and vary by activity and organisation size. A 15% collaboration uplift is possible, and research organisations may receive up to 100%. Confirm applicable rates and match funding requirements in the official brief.
Who can lead a project?
The lead must be a UK-registered, Companies House non-space end-user business; SMEs are included. The call is UK-wide and targets sectors including finance, energy, utilities, infrastructure, agriculture and environmental services. Projects must start at TRL 5 or above and reach TRL 7. Confirm detailed eligibility in the official brief.
Is collaboration required?
Yes. The end-user business must lead a consortium with at least one UK space supplier offering EO, SatCom or PNT capabilities. Integrators may also participate. Define how each partner contributes to the pilot, and confirm any additional partner eligibility or consortium requirements in the official brief.
How do we apply?
Check the UK Space Agency's official brief for the submission route, required documents and application instructions, which are not stated in this listing. Prepare a clear end-user problem, consortium roles, evidence of starting maturity, a route to TRL 7 and a costed delivery plan covering no more than nine months.
Programme at a glance
- Funding
- £250k-£1m
- Funder
- UK Space Agency
- Region
- UK-wide
- Partners required
- Yes
- Next deadline
- 11 December 2026
Why GrantUp
- Over 82% success rate per engagement
- Over £190m secured for clients
- Specialist technical bid writers
Considering Unlocking Space for Business: Environmental Intelligence & Emissions?
Talk through your project with a specialist and find out whether this is the right competition before you invest time in an application.