Notice

Annex 1 - FAQs

Published 4 October 2023

1. Q. What specific space capabilities do proposals need to address in order to be eligible for the funding call?

A. Proposals for the ‘Cross-Cluster Capability Development’ stream of funding will need to reference a specific capability goal from the ‘National Space Strategy In Action’ document (pages 29 – 32). They are also listed in the grant documentation.

2. Q. Are the capability requirements listed in the NSS only applicable to the ‘Cross-Cluster Capability Development’ element of the funding call? Do the capability requirements also have to tie into the pan-regional funding stream?

A. Yes. The cross-capability element of the funding call is the only element where it is a requirement for proposals to reference a specific space capability goal. Where proposals are seeking to deliver projects under the pan-regional approach, they may find it beneficial to demonstrate how they are aligned to the capability goals within the ‘National Space Strategy In Action’ to articulate the strategic importance of their proposed collaboration.

3. Q. What is the budget allocation per project and how many projects will be approved as part of this funding round?

A. Proposers can bid up to £100,000 per project and we’d expect a minimum of two clusters to be a part of any one bid. Subject to the call response, we are expecting to fund between 8 – 12 projects. A third of each project’s spend profile will need to be spent in the FY 2023/24.

4. Q. What is the rationale for the length of time the funding call is open for?

A. The UK Space Agency is working under a constrained delivery window due to its budget profile in this Comprehensive Spending Review period. We are aiming to strike a balance to ensure all available funds are spent before March 2025. Extending the bid writing window would reduce the delivery window, and therefore limit the amount of potential funding that can be allocated to each project.

5. Q. How will IP that is generated as part of the successful projects be protected?

A. We don’t anticipate that there will be any IP to protect as part of this funding call because the call is designed to fund the collaboration between project partners and deliver products that are openly available for use to catalyse investment into the space sector. The Agency is taking a no subsidy approach to the call so we wouldn’t expect there to be immediate commercial gains from the project outputs. The underlying principle of this call is to fund partnerships and collaboration between space clusters rather than for organisations to undertake specific pieces of R&D.

6. Q. Are there any restrictions on the type of organisation can participate in the call, i.e. UK Based companies or SMEs?

A. We are intentionally taking an open approach as to who is eligible for funding and the types of projects that this fund will support. Organisations will be expected to demonstrate that they are able to lead their local space sector, or a defined geographic area of space activity, and be in a position to build or deepen strategic relationships with other similar organisations, based in other areas of the UK.

7. Q. What is the reporting regime and expectation on project leads? Is it similar to Innovate UK’s approach to grant management?

A. We expect project plans to be submitted as part of the proposal which include specific dates when milestones will be delivered. At that point, grant recipients will take part in a milestone review meeting with the Agency to review progress of work and cost that have been incurred up until that point. Invoices will be signed off by the Agency once milestone reviews have been conducted. Projects will also begin with a formal kick-off meeting and end with a final project review meeting.

8. Q. Getting legal approval for T&C’s is a lengthy process. Can you confirm you’ll be using the UKSA standard terms and conditions that were publishes as part of the 2022/23 funding call?

A. The Agency will publish the standard short form grant funding agreement as part of the call documentation for this funding opportunity. The standard agreement as it exists has a number of clauses that are not relevant to this call. Specifically, those relating to match funding and subsidy control. We will be reviewing the short form GFA that and ensure that it is entirely appropriate for the types of projects that we’ll be funding for this call.

9. Q. Do proposers have to find partners from other space clusters? Will the Agency accept sole applicants and/or or from start-ups?

A. All bids would need to bring multiple geographic space sectors together in order to facilitate collaboration between those clusters which will in turn stimulate economic growth within those clusters and the wider space ecosystem. This call will take a partnership-focused approach and all proposals will require at least two delivery organisations, including a lead applicant, to be eligible.

10. Q. Why is this grant funding not considered a subsidy when its ambition is to catalyse investment into the UK Space Sector?

A. The projects that receive grant funding through this funding call will further the development a whole-UK space ecosystem, and grow the UK’s space sector, by establishing or strengthening relationships, collaborations, and partnerships between organisations across multiple local space sectors. The projects must not confer an economic advantage on one or more enterprises organisations, as per Section 2 of the Subsidy Control Act 2022, and instead must strengthen the space ecosystem or market environment of all participating localities. Project outputs should be non-discriminatory and made freely available for use by all interested individuals or organisations.

Project applicants should assure themselves that their proposals are compliant with the Subsidy Control Act 2022 before submitting them to the UK Space Agency.

11. Q. Are their restrictions on funding infrastructure and overheads as part of capability development?

A. The grant funding from this call must not confer an economic advantage on one or more enterprises as per Section 2 of the Subsidy Control Act 2022. As such, in this instance the grant applicant would need to demonstrate how any costs related to infrastructure or overheads would not lead to commercial gain and instead solely support the development of a whole-UK space ecosystem.

12. Q. Will the grants be awarded on a cost-recovery basis?

A. Yes. Grant funding will only be released by the UK Space Agency once the grant recipient has demonstrated that they have incurred costs delivering the agreed project.

13. Q. Can the funds be used to support existing projects?

A. The grant funding cannot be used to deliver projects or outcomes that the grant recipient is already under an obligation to deliver,, including as part of another funded programme. However the funding can be used to enhance or develop existing projects if doing so would be in line with the objectives of the funding call. Grant applicants will also need to articulate why the project cannot be delivered through any other mechanism that does not require grant funding.

14. Q. If you are not currently part of a cluster, can you still apply?

A. That is subject to your ability demonstrate that the grant applicant can lead or represent a defined geographic area of space activity. The grant funding cannot be used to confer an economic advantage on one or more enterprises, as per Section 2 of the Subsidy Control Act 2022.

All activity that is proposed to take place within an existing Space Cluster should include a letter of support from that cluster and be aligned to any existing plans or strategies. The Satellite Application Catapult’s UK Space Cluster Directory lists all the UK’s existing space clusters and relevant contact information.