Guidance

Details on GSTP

Updated 19 September 2025

The General Support Technology Programme (GSTP) addresses new needs and emerging applications. Its objectives are to enable activities at ESA and National Programmes by developing technology, to support the competitiveness of UK and European industry, foster innovation and transfer non-space technology (spin-in) to use in the design of new space systems and enhance European technology non-dependence and the availability of European resources for critical technologies.

The UK subscribed €83 million at the 2022 Council of Ministers to the ESA General Support Technology Programme. This programme covers all technology projects (with the exception of Telecoms payloads).

Proposals and bids may be made by consortia, across industry with or without academic institutions’ involvement. These may include involvement of companies and organisations from other ESA Member States. However, should a consortium include an entity from another Member State that participant will need to secure their delegate’s support for their financial share.

There are two routes through which GSTP projects are initiated, which are outlined below.

1. Compendia

ESA’s General Support Technology Programme (GSTP) Element 1 ‘Develop’ Compendia 2026–2028 activities are now available on esa-star. They focus on strategic technologies including:

1.1 Generic Technology

1.2 Technology Focus

This includes:

• Artificial Intelligence
• Quantum Technologies
• Innovative Propulsion
• Sustainable Space

1.3 Specific Areas

This includes:

• (Cyber)security
• Serialisation / Standardised Sub-Systems
• Technologies for VLEO

Industry and academia are invited to express interest for any activity they would like the UK to support by 31 October 2025 through the Open Space Innovation Platform (OSIP), not directly to the UK GSTP Team.

National Delegations will be informed of the expressions of interest received for the compendia activities and they will make the final selection as to which activities that will be supported (and at what financial level).

ANY UK entity may bid for the activities, up to the value supported by the UK Space Agency, once released on ESA STAR, as this is a competitive tendering process. These activities may also be supported by other member states, therefore there is no guarantee that a UK entity will be the winning bidder. The bids are reviewed by ESA’s Technical Evaluation Boards and member states are not involved in selecting the successful candidate.

If you are considering bidding for an ITT, as a consortium, please note that the UK Space Agency will only support the UK element of any bid, if you are collaborating with another member state(s).

2. Non-Compendia

Please note that we are not currently accepting any requests for support for new Non-Compendia activities until after the ESA Council of Ministers meeting in November 2025. This web page will be updated once the UK’s subscription to GSTP has been confirmed.

If you are seeking support for a De-Risk Follow-On activity, please contact us at GSTP@ukspaceagency.gov.uk to arrange a call to discuss.

Activities that are proposed directly by companies or research organisations, non-compendia activities. These proposals must be supported by the Member State; unsolicited applications directly to ESA will not be considered. These consist of smaller De-Risk activities (up to €250k, with up to €200k being supported by the UK Space Agency) and Building Block activities (up to up to €1m, with up to €500k being supported by the UK Space Agency). These are not subject to Industrial Policy Committee (IPC) approval.

Element 1 De-risk Follow-On, Element 2 and 3 activities also fall into this category, but they are subject to Industrial Policy Committee approval.

Please note that the information provided will be treated as commercially sensitive but may be used within the UK Space Agency to enhance awareness of UK capabilities. The relevant parties will be fully consulted prior to publication of any part of the information contained therein.

Should you have any enquiries, please contact the GSTP team, at GSTP@ukspaceagency.gov.uk.