Notice

FAQs

Updated 20 August 2026

1. Will the webinar recording be shared?

You can watch the webinar held on 17 July 2026.

2. When will applicants be notified of the outcome? 

Applications are expected to be reviewed during September, with successful projects identified in late September / early October. Projects are expected to start from October 2026. 

3. The application form contains two questions marked as “optional”. How will these be assessed? 

The “optional” designation was included in error and will be removed. These questions do form part of the assessment criteria and must be completed. They will contribute to the scoring and weighting of applications. 

4. Are Research and Technology Organisations (RTOs) eligible for 100% funding? 

This depends on the status of the organisation and applicable subsidy control rules: 

• RTOs operating under Minimum Financial Assistance (MFA) may be eligible for up to 100% funding, subject to MFA limits. 

• Non-profit organisations that are not universities may also be eligible for up to 100% funding. 

• RTOs engaged in economic activity may be subject to the same intervention rates as commercial organisations. 

Because organisational circumstances vary, applicants should contact the UK Space Agency team at UKSA.EOT@DSIT.gov.uk for case-specific advice. 

5. Are High Altitude Pseudo-Satellites (HAPS) in scope? 

HAPS platforms themselves are not within scope, as they are not directly Earth Observation instrumentation. However, technologies or instruments intended to operate on such platforms may be within scope provided they are also intended for use on satellites at some stage. Instruments being developed solely for HAPS platforms are not eligible. 

6. Can organisations apply to both the EOMT Innovation Call and the Climate Services Call? 

Yes. Organisations may submit applications to multiple calls provided they are distinct projects that fit the objectives of each scheme. Normal subsidy control requirements continue to apply. Bidders must declare where they are bidding for other funding sources for related work as part of their application. 

7. What monitoring and evaluation information will be required? 

Final metrics are still being confirmed, but are expected to include measures such as: 

• TRL progression

• revenue or sales generated

• follow-on investment secured

• job creation

• creation of new IP or knowledge

• progress towards flight readiness

• export opportunities

The Agency intends to keep reporting requirements proportionate and as light-touch as possible. Applicants are encouraged to share wider project successes and impacts to help make the case for future investment in the programme and enable promotion of successful projects.  

8. Is an industrial partner required at the application stage? 

If applying as an academic organisation, you do not need an industrial or RTO collaborator. Engagement with such partners can be included as a work package, although projects must also outline a credible route to market. Where this has not yet been established, applicants may include dedicated work packages aimed at identifying end users, commercial partners, funding routes, or institutional mission opportunities. 

9. Is miniaturisation work eligible? 

Yes. Miniaturisation is aligned with the objectives of the call, particularly where it contributes to greater commercial viability. Studies and technical analysis activities can be eligible even where significant hardware procurement is not required. 

10. Will there be opportunities for follow-on funding? 

Answer: Yes. The Agency’s intention is that successful projects will be able to progress through other funding routes as they mature. Potential follow-on mechanisms discussed included: 

• National Space Innovation Programme (NSIP); 

• ESA General Support Technology Programme (GSTP); 

• ESA InCubed; 

• Future EO and wider UK Space Agency innovation funding opportunities. 

The purpose of this call is to help establish viability at lower TRLs, with the expectation that successful projects can progress through subsequent programmes. 

11. Will this call be repeated? 

We plan for this to be the first in a series of calls, though in the longer-term funding remains subject to approvals and programme planning. 

12. Is a project spanning multiple TRLs eligible? 

Yes, projects containing activities at different starting TRLs can be eligible, provided the proposed work would start between TRL 1–4. 

13. Additional Clarifications 

• The call budget is approximately £1.4m

• Individual grants are expected to be between £50k and £200k

• Projects should plan to start in October 2026 and complete by 31 October 2027

• The deadline for submission of an Intention to Bid is 21 August 2026

• The application deadline is 1 September 2026

• VAT is not payable under the grant

• Applications must include at least 4 milestones, though if your project is shorter than 12 months you may wish to use fewer milestones as appropriate. Please contact the EOMT team if you have any further questions. If you require more frequent payments due to cashflow etc we can accommodate, though we will need to conduct a review at every milestone to ensure grant conformity

• Where possible, approximately 40–50% of grant expenditure should fall before 31 March 2027

14. How much match funding is required? 

This scheme has been established under the Streamlined Scheme for Research, Development and Innovation. The amount varies depending on the type and size of organisation; details are set out in the call guidance. 

15. How are the grant monies paid?  

Grant funding is paid in arrears at set points (milestones) in the project.  If there are concerns around cash flow, payment milestones can be negotiated to be more frequent or earlier on in the project.  

16. Could you please clarify whether applicants should select a single subsidy-control category for the overall project where activities span both industrial research and experimental development, or whether the project costs can be apportioned between the two categories?

It is the applicant’s responsibility to determine applicable Subsidy Control Act treatment for your project. It is possible, as per the guidance for the streamlined scheme, to have an award that spans both categories where the percentage is calculated from the ratio of proposed project costs of each type. However, it’s likely to be very complex to determine this and will result in a project that has different milestones with different match funding percentages and it will be difficult for both recipient and the Authority to keep track of this. We would therefore advise prospective applicants to select one category for their project, based on the definitions set out here: Research, Development and Innovation streamlined route guidance.

17. Could you please confirm how the applicable intervention rate should be calculated for a project containing both industrial research and experimental development activities?

As above, we would strongly advise against a project with an approach that has two different subsidy control categories of costs with different match funding requirements. Should you wish to proceed with this, the match funding (including any uplift for collaboration) would be applied to the maximum rate for each category. 

18. Could you please confirm whether collaboration between a UK SME and a qualifying UK research organisation would satisfy the conditions for the additional 15-percentage-point subsidy uplift, assuming the research organisation has the right to publish its own research results?

Yes, as per the published call guidance.

19. The guidance states that the required contribution must be agreed and secured at the time of application. Could you please clarify what forms of project contribution are acceptable for an SME under this call? In particular, are the following potentially eligible as part of the required contribution, subject to the relevant UK Space Agency rules?

• Founder/project staff time funded directly by the applicant;
• External private investment secured specifically for the project;
• Third-party commercial investment;
• Eligible in-kind technical contributions from a project collaborator;
• Other eligible non-UK Space Agency funding that is not derived from another government or institutionally funded programme.

All of the above could be considered applicable match funding. 

20. If an applicant contribution is required, does the full amount need to be held as cash by the applicant at the point of application, or is it sufficient for the contribution to be formally committed and secured through an appropriate funding or investment agreement?

Applicants are expected to have sufficient match funding resources available at the point of application. 

21. The guidance states that grant payments are made in arrears following completion of milestones and evidence of eligible expenditure. Could you please clarify whether an SME is expected to have sufficient working capital to cover both its required contribution and the eligible project expenditure incurred before each milestone payment, or whether any alternative arrangements are available for early-stage SMEs?

As per the call guidance, all grant funding is reimbursed retrospectively upon provision of evidence costs have been incurred. There are no alternative arrangements available for early-stage SMEs. We advise you to consider cashflow in your milestone payment structure to ensure there is sufficient to sustain the project. 

22. If an SME is the lead applicant and a UK university/research organisation participates in the project, could the research organisation receive its eligible share of project funding directly through the grant, subject to the applicable 80% FEC rules, rather than the SME having to finance the research organisation’s costs?

No. As per the call guidance, grant funding is provided via a Grant Funding Agreement with the lead organisation only. We do not enter into multiple agreements with project partners. The lead organisation is expected to manage payments to any partners or subcontractors. 

23. We may require specialist UK engineering support for parts of the technology development. Could you please confirm that these costs should be included as subcontractor/additional costs under the lead organisation and that the subcontractor’s costs do not form part of the partner organisation section for subsidy-control purposes?

They should be submitted as additional costs but are still in scope of Subsidy Control Act 2022 requirements: they would be treated the same as any other eligible project cost you seek to claim and you would be expected to provide the appropriate percentage of match funding on the costs to ensure the grant remains compliant with the Subsidy Control Act (e.g. if your match funding requirement is 50% and you have £10,000 of subcontracting costs, you would only be able to claim £5000 of these through the grant).

Please contact the EOMT team for any further questions or clarifications via UKSA.EOT@DSIT.gov.uk, or visit Earth Observation Missions and Technology Innovation Call 1 - GOV.UK for more information on how to apply.