Funding
Support with Raising Finance
The Satellite Applications Catapult is not a funding agency. Instead, we help companies raise private finance and direct you to the best grant-funding sources. Alternatively, companies may bid collaboratively with us to funding schemes, pay us to work with you or suggest projects for us to work on that can be of benefit to you but exploited by the community.
See below for some funding options that we can signpost you to.
Private Investment
The Catapult has strong links with the UK’s business angel networks, venture capital community and banks. We have experts in house to provide you feedback on your pitch deck and can provide you with wealth of knowledge on how to make your company attractive to a funder/investor. We focus on both start-up capital and the growth capital needed for businesses to scale up their activities.
Grant Schemes
There are several funding schemes that enable companies to develop innovative products and services. The Catapult can also guide businesses towards collaborative funding opportunities from organisations such as the European Space Agency (ESA), UK Space Agency and Innovate UK. If you would like to speak with one of our experts about any of these schemes, please contact us.
Email usInnovate UK
The majority of UK programmes are run through Innovate UK, the UK’s innovation agency. If you want to develop an innovative product, process or service, you may be able to get funding of between £25,000 and £10 million. Innovate UK runs grant funding competitions that can help you develop your idea and make it successful. They are open to innovation projects led by a UK-based business or research and technology organisation, with funding awarded to the winners. Innovate UK also offer other forms of funding, including a pilot programme of innovation loans. Eligible small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that want to carry out late-stage innovation projects could borrow between £100,000 and £1 million.
Get details of our latest funding competitions and how to apply.National Space Technology Programme (NSTP)
The National Space Technology Programme encourages the development of space technology in the UK space sector. The programme offers support by funding industry, academia and other (not for profit) government institutions, who are looking to develop technology and build new capabilities for the UK Space sector.
More informationSpace for Smarter Government programme
The Space for Smarter Government Programme (SSGP) is a strategic, national, programme established in 2014, led and funded by the UK Space Agency. It is delivered in collaboration with the Satellite Applications Catapult to drive the uptake and use of space products, data and services across government departments. The programme aims to increase the public sector's use of space as an enabling technology to stimulate innovation and growth whilst at same time making government more efficient and ‘smarter’.
More informationESA Business Applications
ESA Business Applications offers funding and support to businesses from any sector who intend to use space (satellite navigation, earth observation, satellite telecommunication, space weather, space technologies) to develop new commercial services.
Latest opportunitiesESA Business Incubation Centre
The ESA Business Incubation Centre can provide £40,000 of funding, and has regular calls for selection.
More informationRegional Innovation Funding
In addition to UK-wide schemes, the devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland provide support for businesses located in those countries. Local Enterprise Partnerships also provide regional funding. Here are some links to institutions in these areas: Scottish Enterprise, Invest Northern Ireland and Business Wales
