Guidance

About the UK Space Agency Business Applications and Space Solutions (BASS) programme

Updated 22 November 2023

1. Introduction

Using outputs of Space Activity to Connect Global Britain, Expand Business Potential, and Improve Lives.

Downstream Space Applications and Data are the economic engine of the Space Sector, with annual income from space applications accounting for roughly three quarters of UK space sector revenue (Source – Size and Health of the UK Space Sector 2022).

Space applications deliver a significant portion of the growth in the space sector and directly or indirectly supports all the activities in the 10-point plan of the National Space Strategy.

The UK Space Agency is committed to delivering an increase in applications that it supports, increasing the economic growth of the sector and promoting the opportunities of space into as many different markets as possible, both nationally and internationally.

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

Providing unique zero-equity co-funding opportunities through either the permanently open call or thematically focused timebound calls and expert advice on proposals from UK based entrepreneurs to receive funding to bring their services to the forefront in line with national and international priorities. The programme provides access to the ESA marketing networks, both nationally and internationally.

The UK funds BASS projects at up to 50% in the permanently open call. Co-funding cannot come from another public source but can be made up from a mixture of monetary funds and in-kind contributions for example, (company funds, loans, investment, or other non-public monetary source) and in-kind contributions. Monetary funds should be the significant majority of the make up of co-funding with in-kind contributions in the minority.

The BASS programme champions the use of space by bringing the benefits of commercial space innovation to the people of the UK. It catalyses our investment to keep the UK at the forefront of the exploitation of space data and space assets through cutting edge applications in sectors such as Health, Climate Change, Finance and Maritime. In the UK, 79.3% of applications to the BASS programme are from small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The programme is made up of dozens of individual projects which are run on behalf of the UK, by ESA.

The UK Space Agency wants to show that space is open for business and has the power to improve our everyday lives on Earth. We do this by helping companies to integrate space data and technology into commercial services in several different ways:

1.1 Kick-Starts

Small scale feasibility studies designed to “kick start” the exploration of ideas. Each call is based on a thematic topic.

1.2 Competitive Calls

Thematically focussed competitive calls for feasibility study activities to address a particular customer challenge while stimulating commercial interest.

Further detailed information on these Kick Start and Competitive calls can be found in the invitation to tender (ITT) guidance. We recommend you familiarise yourself with this guidance before submitting a proposal.

1.3 Enabling Studies 

Early activities to explore what might need to be done to stimulate the uptake of space in a particular sector. Generally focused on topics with a long lead time, or where there are particular challenges that need to be addressed.

1.4 Direct Negotiation (Permanently Open Call)

This is an industry led opportunity for companies to propose Feasibility Studies and/or Demonstration Projects in line with national and international priorities.

Link to the calls can be found below.

2. Type of proposals we are interested in supporting for UK Space Agency BASS programme funding

We are interested in applications of space technology to previously untapped consumer markets.

We are keen to support small entities with a turnover or balance sheet total of less than or equal to €10 million with a headcount of less than 50 employees and micro entities with turnover of less than or equal to €2 million with a headcount of less than 10 employees.

This does not preclude larger businesses from applying to the BASS programme, but they will need to present a very strong business case for why they cannot achieve what they are proposing without UK Space Agency support.

We welcome applications that align with His Majesty’s Government priorities, the National Space Strategy and particularly applications relevant to clean growth, climate change, transport and wider societal benefit.

3. What we do fund ​

​These proposals shall use one (or more) of the following space assets, including but not limited to:

• Spaceflight Technologies
• Satellite Communication
• Satellite Navigation
• Satellite Earth Observation
• Space Weather
• Satellite Automatic Identification System
• Microgravity Services

Other space technologies will be considered but you should contact the UK Space Agency BASS team at the earliest opportunity to discuss the applicability.

Proposals shall include:

• Applications that are at Technology Readiness Level 7 and above
• Applications that are market ready
• Applications that benefit business growth and development
• Applications that align with our current priority investment areas​

4. What we do not fund ​

We do not fund:

• Applications in support of Military and Defence Operations
• Research and Development activities​
• Design and/or construction of satellites, space hardware, instrumentation, or infrastructure ​
• Launch brokerage or launch costs
• In orbit operational or maintenance costs

Please see our eligibility and readiness checklist for more information.

5. Application process

5.1 Step 1: Activity Pitch Questionnaire (APQ)

The Activity Pitch Questionnaire (APQ) allows companies to present their business idea in a reduced and standardised pitch. This is the first process for a company to apply for funding. Companies may opt to work with the ESA Business Applications Ambassadors to develop their APQ’s to a good standard before formally submitting. However, please note the use of ESA ambassadors is not mandatory but recommended to support companies through the APQ process. Companies submit their APQ’s via the ESA website and to the UK Space Agency’s Space Applications Team mailbox in parallel for both organisations to have sight of the documentation for their own internal review processes.

To be eligible for the ESA/UK Space Agency BASS programme, the idea described in your APQ shall be:

1. Utilising at least one space asset (such as Satellite Communications, Earth Observation, Satellite Navigation, Human Spaceflight technologies and other space assets).
2. Aimed at developing commercially viable and sustainable space-based applications by linking user needs to corresponding solutions, which incorporate space assets ready to be used, or requesting only limited technology adaptations.
3. Able to demonstrate that the proposed solutions work in their operational environment and are compatible with their operational practices (for Demonstration Projects only).

Find out more about the Activity Pitch Questionnaire (APQ).

For further questions, you can directly contact your regional Ambassador.

5.2 Step 2: Quality Assurance ​

The UK Space Agency will review your APQ alongside ESA. Full details of the assessment criteria and process can be found in the next section. We will complete our assessment within 10 working days of acknowledgement of receipt of your APQ. ​

If the application has met our assessment criteria and ESA have approved, it will be progressed to the next step of the process. ESA will respond to companies with a decision and provide feedback.

5.3 Step 3: Develop an Outline Proposal

Following the acceptance by the UK Space Agency and ESA of the APQ, companies will be required to write an Outline Proposal (OP) and submit this to both ESA and the UK Space Agency. The OP develops the business case presented in the APQ further and provides more information on the customer needs and buy-in, the proposed solution and how it addresses the customer needs, competitor analysis, market opportunities beyond the interested customers, technical detail about the service operation and use of space assets. ESA provide support to companies to develop an acceptable OP by ensuring there is sufficient information in the OP for review.

The UK Space Agency will inform ESA in advance when a company is invited to our BASS Panel and companies will be asked to present their OP to the panel of experts which sets out their proposal in more detail. A company can proceed to the BASS Panel without ESA sign off, but this is done at the company’s own risk.

5.4 Step 4: Assessment Panel

A company will be invited to attend an UK Space Agency BASS assessment panel where you’ll pitch your proposal to the UK Space Agency’s panel of subject matter experts. This is a UK Space Agency only process, not attended by ESA representatives, but a step led by the UK Space Agency to receive more information on the company’s proposal and help better inform our decision making on each proposal. The OP is shared with the panel of experts two weeks in advance of the BASS Panel date.

Panels are held quarterly and the UK Space Agency will provide companies with 10 working days with full details of what to expect on the day. ​

The panel will reach a decision on whether the UK Space Agency will provide an Authorisation of Funding Letter. There will be three potential outcomes once companies have presented their OP; acceptable, not acceptable or requires further clarification. In the event, the panel have further questions that require clarification, companies will have 4 weeks to provide a response to the panel’s clarification questions.

If the panel are satisfied with the responses to the clarification questions, or have given an unconditional approval, the UK Space Agency will inform ESA and the company and invite them to develop a Full Proposal.

In the event that a company is deemed not acceptable, feedback will be provided to the company within 1 week.

Find out more about the subject matter experts who sit on the Assessment Panel.

5.5 Step 5: Full Proposal

Following acceptance of a recommendation to proceed by the assessment panel, companies will be required to write a Full Proposal (FP) which is the last step in the documentation development process. The FP builds on the previous Outline Proposal and finalises all the details of the Business Case. It also forms the basis of any resulting contract with ESA as appropriate. The FP is a fully detailed business case clearly setting out the “what, why, when, where, how, and how much” of the proposal and contains amongst other things, the final costings, schedule, work packages descriptions, market analysis, use of space assets/data, and customer requirements that will be delivered as part of the project.

There should be no ambiguities, uncertainties or unknowns in the FP, everything should be fully detailed and explained.

Once the FP is complete and has passed the ESA checks it will be assessed by the UK Space Agency to ensure that any feedback from the Assessment panel in Step 4 has been addressed, and that there are no significant deviations from the Outline Proposal in terms of time, cost, and performance. If any queries are raised as a result of our assessment, these will be communicated to the company within 10 working days.

5.6 Step 6: Authorisation of Funding ​(AoF)

Once the UK Space Agency have completed their review of the completed Full Proposal and all queries have been successfully addressed, an Authorisation of Funding letter will be issued against the Full Proposal. This is required for ESA to accept your completed FP for assessment as it specifically releases the funding requested, the ESA Price, for the proposed activities. Without a valid AoF, ESA will not review your proposal.

The AoFs issued for UK BASS proposals are valid for 6 months from the date of issue. This is to try to ensure that the next steps happen in a reasonable timescale, and if there are delays beyond 6 months the causes can be examined but also we can check that the Business Case is still valid before considering an extension.

5.7 Step 7: Submit completed proposal to ESA​

Once an AoF is issued the completed documentation set, including, but not limited to, the Full Proposal, any PSS forms, any Letters of Support from potential customers, any annexes that have been added, needs to be submitted to ESA via their official web portal. ESA will provide you with the details on how to do this.

5.8 Step 8: ESA processes ​

An independent ESA team check the submitted Full Proposal to ensure it contains everything necessary ahead of conducting an assessment and evaluation. Having completed final checks, ESA and contract team meet with applicants to negotiate the final contract for the delivery of the proposal. Upon successful completion of the negotiation meeting the contract between ESA/applicant the contract is signed shortly afterwards.

Find out more about ESA’s process.

6. How to apply for funding

There are two main ways to apply for funding and support from the UK Space Agency BASS programme. To find out more about the programme from ESA’s perspective, please follow the link below:

Information on how to apply for Business Applications.

You can submit your proposal at any time. Applications are open all year round with no closing dates like other elements of BASS have. Companies from any sector can submit a proposal throughout the year through the Call for Proposals for Downstream Applications.

You can also explore ESA’s ‘Thematic Calls for Proposals’. You are invited to submit an idea on a particular theme within a specified timeframe. See a list of Thematic Calls for Proposals (under ‘Non-Competitive Thematic Calls for Proposals’). You are invited to submit an idea on a particular theme within a specified timeframe. Your idea will not be judged against other proposals.

As a first point of contact, we advise you contact one of the independent ESA Business Applications Ambassadors in your region.

7. How to complain

If you are unhappy with either the outcome of your application or how the process was managed, or for any other reason, you can make a complaint by contacting the team at space-applications@ukspaceagency.gov.uk.

Please set out the nature of your complaint in detail. The team will try to resolve a complaint in the first instance but, if resolution is not possible, we will refer it to the UK Space Agency central complaints process, where it will be independently assessed.

8. Further information

If you would like any further information, or have any questions or feedback about this guidance, please contact the team at space-applications@ukspaceagency.gov.uk.