Notice

Guidance Note A – FAQs for C-LEO Call 3

Updated 20 July 2026

Overview

This FAQ document supports applicants to the UK Space Agency’s (part of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology) C‑LEO Call 3: National Only. It consolidates common queries from previous Calls and clarifies requirements specific to this Call. It should be read alongside the Call Guidance and associated templates.

This FAQ will be updated as needed. Applicants should always rely on the latest published Guidance and official communications.

1. About the Call

1.1 How long will the C-LEO programme run for?

The C-LEO programme will provide up to £160 million over 6 years (the scheme is set to end in March 2030).

1.2 Does the C-LEO programme relate to any specific commercial opportunity?

No. This programme has been designed to help innovative UK-based suppliers develop the tools they need to build the next generation of satellite technologies.

The aims of the programme are agnostic of the end commercial user of the technology being developed.

1.3 Why is this Call National Only?

This Call is National-only in response to feedback from applicants that the previous Call, which combined both ESA ARTES and National funding routes, was confusing for applicants.

Delivering this Call solely through the National Programme provides greater clarity for applicants and ensures a clear distinction between funding mechanisms. It also supports a more consistent and transparent assessment process for reviewers by aligning all applications to a single programme, set of requirements and evaluation framework.

1.4 Will there be another National C-LEO Call?

We are currently planning for at least one more call to take place in early 2027 for National funding.

1.5 What technologies are in scope?

Projects must focus on satellite telecommunications and align with one or more of the following technology areas:

• On‑Board (Regenerative) Processing
• Active Antennas
• Optical Links
• Networking and Routing
• User Terminals

Projects must align with at least one of the five priority satellite telecommunications technology areas listed above.

Projects must start at TRL 4-6 and reach TRL 7 or above by project end, with a credible route to market and industrialisation.

1.6 Who in the UK Space Agency is leading the C-LEO programme? 

The SatComs team (previously called the Telecoms team), working closely with the SatComs, PNT & ISAM Group and CTO Group.

2. Funding and Eligibility

2.1 How much funding is available?

This is a defined UK National grants Call, with up to £42,000,000 of UK Space Agency funding being made available. The UK Space Agency is seeking to award funding of around £4 million to £10 million per project to a handful of projects through this third call.  

2.2 Who is eligible to apply for this call?

Only UK‑based organisations are eligible to apply. Commercial companies must be registered in the UK with Companies House.

C‑LEO Call 3: National Only is focused on projects advancing towards industrialisation and commercial readiness. SMEs may apply either as primes or as part of a consortium, provided they can demonstrate credible matched funding, a clear route to market and strong alignment with the Call objectives.

Consortia are encouraged where they add value, for example, by strengthening delivery capability, sharing risk or supporting commercial scale‑up.

2.3 Is C-LEO open to non-UK businesses?

No. Only UK‑based organisations are eligible to apply for funding.

The C‑LEO programme supports UK‑based activity and therefore requires applicants to have a sustained UK presence, such as a UK‑registered entity.

2.4 If we have a potential foreign lead customer for the product being developed, do they need to be a non-funded project partner? Are there any benefits in having them as a partner?  

No, a foreign lead customer is not required to be included as a non‑funded project partner.

However, evidence of customer interest is important. Applicants should clearly set out their target customers, including any export opportunities, and demonstrate this within the application form, where requested. This helps strengthen the commercial case and route to market.

2.5 What match‑funding rates apply?

Please see the guidance in section ‘5. Subsidy Control: Match Funding Rates’ for information on Match Funding for this Call.

2.6 Who can lead an application?

Only UK‑based organisations can lead. Commercial companies must be registered in the UK (Companies House). The lead organisation is responsible for the full submission and providing all consortium information.

2.7 Are non‑telecommunications projects eligible?

No. C‑LEO is a telecommunications programme, and only projects with a clear and primary telecommunications focus are eligible.

Projects primarily focused on other domains, such as Earth Observation, science missions or climate monitoring, are not eligible unless the activity is clearly centred on a telecommunications use case. Technologies or market applications that fall outside the scope of this Call (for example, Quantum communications, propulsion or solar cells) are also not eligible.

2.8 Would C-LEO funding cover the total costs of a proposal?

No. All proposals require an element of match-funding from the applicant organisations.

Please see the call guidance document for funding levels.

2.9 Would C-LEO funding be provided for advance payments for the purchase of assets? 

No. The C-LEO programme will only make payments based on costs incurred with evidence of payment being made.  UK Government would not make advance payments (unlike European Space Agency programmes), support the purchase of assets or other capex costs through the programme.

2.10 Are licensing, regulatory or spectrum filing costs eligible?

No. UK Government funding will not support licensing or regulatory compliance activities, including spectrum filings, in the UK or overseas. However, applicants must demonstrate a viable and policy‑aligned approach to spectrum use.

2.11 What travel and subsistence costs are allowed?

Reasonable travel and subsistence may be supported where value for money is demonstrated. Alcohol, entertainment, lobbying, marketing activity and conference attendance are ineligible. Information about eligible versus ineligible expenditure can be found on our grants page here.

2.12 Does this funding prefer OPEX or CAPEX or both types of projects?

The UK Space Agency is only able to provide CAPEX funding. 

Please refer to the published call guidance for more information on eligible and ineligible expenditure.

2.13 Do project costs include production masking costs for an ASIC or just the prototyping costs?

Yes, if the costs are a necessary component of delivering an eligible project as part of the C-LEO programme. It is the applicant’s responsibility to determine and justify if this is the case. 

Please refer to the call guidance for information on the targeted technologies and eligible project costs.

2.14 Can a company registered in the UK, but with a non-UK counterpart complete any portion of the project outside the UK?   

Overseas counterparts of the UK company applying are treated as sub-contractors but costs are not eligible for UK Space Agency funding

Non-UK subcontractors are expected to self-fund their costs. For essential, requests where a non-UK activity is essential due to a lack of capability within the UK, these costs may be eligible by exception.  The UK Space Agency will determine eligible and non-eligible costs at project onset.

2.15 Are academics and universities eligible to bid?  

Research organisations engaged in economic activity as part of their project will be treated as commercial enterprises and are eligible to apply as part of a collaborative bid.

Research organisations undertaking non-economic activity as part of their projects will be subject to the following eligibility conditions: 

• they cannot submit individual bids to this call

• they can form part of collaborative bids but cannot be awarded more than 30% of the total project funding

2.16 Can research organisations be the largest partner in a collaborative bid?

For this current call this is not possible, however as this is a developing programme this may change for future calls.

Research organisations engaged in economic activity as part of their project will be treated as commercial enterprises and therefore can be the largest partner in a collaborative bid.

Research organisations undertaking non-economic activity as part of their projects cannot be awarded more than 30% of the total project funding. 

Other opportunities are available via different UK Space Agency programmes.

2.17 Are IP licensing costs eligible for funding?  

No. Please refer to the call guidance for information on what are funded and eligible costs.

2.18 Are partners funded at the same level as the largest partner in a collaborative bid? 

No, partners will receive match funding rates dependent on their organisation size, as detailed in section ‘5. Subside Control: Match Funding Rates’ of the call guidance document. 

2.19 Is there a minimum or maximum number of partners who can be part of a collaborative bid?

There are no minimum or maximum number of partners. However, each partner must have a clear and justifiable role within the project and be based in the UK only.

2.20 Can the same company or research organisation submit multiple expressions of interest, either individually or as a partner?  

Yes. Organisations may submit more than one application, and each submission will be assessed on its own merits. However, quality is prioritised, and submissions that are incomplete or considered vexatious will not be taken forward.

If multiple applications from the same organisation are successful, this may have implications depending on the nature of the funding and the activity proposed. The total amount of public funding awarded to a single enterprise or across projects may be limited and will be assessed on a case‑by‑case basis.

2.21 If a proposal has applications within both medium Earth orbit (MEO) and low Earth orbit (LEO), is it still eligible for this LEO-focussed programme?

Yes, as long as the proposal meets the strategic aims of the programme – particularly building UK capability to meet the demand for high-volume LEO constellation production.

2.22 Can I include multiple technologies in the same application?

Yes, in this case your application will be viewed singularly, and will be assessed on both technologies simultaneously.

There is no option for partial funding of a single technology submitted together with another if the overall application is rejected.  

2.23 The call guidance states that C-LEO will fund a project up to TRL 7 and above. Will this cover funding the project to TRL 9, including in-orbit demonstrations? 

Yes, this is something that we would consider on a case-by-case basis and the project would need to meet the assessed criteria and expected timeframes of projects as detailed in the call guidance document.

The aim of the C-LEO programme is to take proposals with a technology readiness level (TRL) of 4 and raise them to TRL 7 and above. By the end of the funded project, there must be a tangible improvement in the TRL of the technology or a demonstration of advancement in approach. 

2.24 How do we assess TRL levels, to determine if our starting TRL is in the required range of 4 and our finishing TRL is above 7? 

The C-LEO programme follows ESA’s definitions of Technology Readiness Levels. More information can be found here.

2.25 Is TRL 4-6 the starting TRL or the target TRL for this funding call? 

Your project must have a starting TRL of 4. The main objective of the programme is about rapid commercialisation to meet the opportunities in the global market, increasing TRL to above 7. We are looking to support established technologies and accelerate them to market. 

2.26 To what extent can a proposal be changed between the version described in the Stage One form and the version described in the application form?

There should not be substantial changes to the project description, business opportunity, overalls aims or benefits of the proposal between the version described in the Stage One and the Stage Two form. However, applicants may incorporate feedback from Stage One to their Stage Two application.

New partners can be added to proposals and project costs can change to a limited extent between the Stage One and Stage Two application forms.

There can also be minor changes to the nature of the project as long as there is a clear relationship between the proposal descriptions in the Stage One and Stage Two application forms. 

Any changes to the proposal made since submitting the Stage One form should be highlighted in the application form. 

2.27 What is the expected duration of funded projects and how long can the project run for to progress up to the required minimum of TRL 7 by completion? 

This call is targeting projects ending by March 2030. That does not preclude shorter duration projects from applying. 

2.28 Does C-LEO only fund the technology development of payload and user segment technology, or will supporting technologies also be accepted? 

C-LEO is aimed at the 5 technology groups outlined in the call guidance. It is the applicant’s responsibility to determine if their proposal meets the aims and objectives of the programme. 

2.29 Is there a timescale for the start date of a successful project? 

Projects should begin no later than 1st April 2027. There is no specific deadline for project initiation within this period.

3. Application Process

3.1 What are the key dates?

• Call Opens: Monday 20th July 2026

• Stage One Application Form Deadline: Monday 7 September 2026 (12:00 GMT)

• Stage One Notification of Outcomes: by Friday 2 October 2026

• Stage Two Full Application Form Deadline: Wednesday 11 November 2026 (12:00 GMT)

• Stage Two Full Application Notification of Outcomes: by Wednesday 16th December 2026

• Further indicative dates are provided in the Call Guidance.

3.2 Is there an applicant webinar?

Yes, a live applicant webinar for this Call will be held on Wednesday 29th July 2026 at 11am GMT.

To register your interest, please access here or email UKSA.Satcoms@dsit.gov.uk.

Applicants may pre-submit clarification questions to UKSA.SatComs@dsit.gov.uk using the subject line “UK Space Agency C‑LEO Call 3: National Only – Webinar Questions”. Where appropriate, questions and responses will be anonymised and incorporated into updates of this FAQ document.

3.3 Will there be an in-person event?

Yes, there will be an in-person Consortium Building Event in Harwell on Thursday 6th August 2026. 

To register your interest and to find out more information, please visit the website here or email UKSA.Satcoms@dsit.gov.uk. 

Any questions asked during the Event will be published in “Guidance Note A – FAQs”. Access to the event will be arranged on a first come first serve basis due to capacity constraints.

Members of the SatComs team also expect to attend a number of industry events over the next few months. Applicants are welcome to engage with the SatComs team at these events if they wish to discuss the Call in more detail. However, they are unable to provide feedback on proposals.

4. Assessment and Outcomes

4.1 How are applications assessed?

Applications are assessed by UKSA staff with external reviewers providing support at Stage Two, against the published criteria. These cover:

Stage One:

• Strategic Fit
• Value for Money
• Catalyse Investment
• Innovation

Stage Two:

• Strategic Fit
• Value for Money
• Catalyse Investment
• Project Management
• Innovation & Technical Feasibility
• Benefits

For further details on assessment criteria, please see Guidance Note D – Stage One Criteria and Guidance Note E – Stage Two Criteria.

4.2 Will feedback be provided?

Applicants may receive feedback, particularly if unsuccessful at Stage Two. The level of feedback may vary.

4.3 Could applicants submit multiple proposals if part of multiple consortia?

Yes. Depending on the nature of the awards and activity undertaken, the total amount of public funding may be limited per enterprise per project. This would be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

4.4 Can we bid with a partner(s) for 2 projects in the same proposal? 

All projects should be submitted individually. However, a single project may include multiple technologies.

There is no limit on the volume of proposals you may submit. If 2 proposals are submitted which are reliant on each other, then please inform us of this at Stage One.

4.5 Can I resubmit a proposal that was unsuccessful in a previous C-LEO call?

Yes, you may re-submit your proposal which will then go through the independent evaluation process when being considered for funding. We recommend that any previous feedback is taken into consideration.

4.6 Can I get initial feedback on a draft for the Stage One proposal and then resubmit an updated version?

No, feedback will only be given after Stage One has closed.

5. Further Support

5.1 Who should I contact for questions?

All queries should be directed to UKSA.Satcoms@dsit.gov.uk, quoting the call title “UK Space Agency C‑LEO Call 3: National Only” and your UK Space Agency reference number where applicable.