GrantRadar

UK Space Agency (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)

International Bilateral Fund – Call 3

UK Space Agency grants for UK-led space projects that build partnerships with organisations overseas, to strengthen the UK as a trusted space partner, grow exports and investment, and build priority UK capabilities. Each project can receive up to £1.5m (expected range £1m to £1.5m) for up to 18 months starting 1 April 2027, and must include at least one formal international partner and match funding under subsidy control rules. Partnerships with Canada, France, Germany, India, Japan and the USA are particularly encouraged; each lead organisation may submit only one application, and the call closes at 3pm on 4 November 2026.

Apply on the funder’s site
You could get
£1,000,000 – £1,500,000
Closes in
17 days left
4 November
Effort
Heavy
budgets, references, often several stages

Who can apply

  • The project must be led by a UK organisation, which receives the grant: any type of legally registered UK organisation, including universities, research bodies, public sector research establishments and businesses of any size including start-ups; companies outside the space sector can apply if the work meets the call's aims
  • The UK Space Agency's FAQ says a lead company must be registered with Companies House, have a physical registered office in the UK, be a distinct legal entity and show a substantive UK presence
  • Each lead organisation may submit only one application (UKRI and its councils count as one organisation), but organisations may join other bids as partners or subcontractors
  • Every consortium must include at least one formal international project partner from any country (the same group's overseas entity is technically eligible); partners bring their own match funding and all consortium members, including international partners, must meet subsidy control match funding requirements, with match funding secured at the time of applying
  • The lead needs a UK bank account, the experience and capacity to manage a project of this scale, and must pass due diligence on financial standing, governance, conflicts of interest, national security and technical expertise; all project members need anti-bribery and conflict of interest policies and GDPR compliance

What it funds

Projects that strengthen the UK space sector's international partnerships and deliver the IBF objectives:

  • Deepening relationships through international partnerships, strengthening the UK as a trusted space partner of choice
  • Delivering economic growth by enabling high-value collaboration, innovation, increased market access and exports
  • Leveraging international partnerships to build priority UK capabilities and protect national security
  • Any area of the UK space economy, with priority subsectors of Satellite Communications, Assured Access to Space, In-Orbit Servicing, Assembly and Manufacturing (ISAM) and Space Domain Awareness (SDA)
  • Feasibility studies, industrial research and experimental development (at any TRL), with a clear pathway to economic impact and commercialisation
  • Activities that promote the UK internationally and champion the space sector in the UK, such as dissemination, stakeholder engagement, public outreach, skills development and knowledge exchange
  • Eligible costs such as staff, equipment, travel and subsistence, subcontracting, consumables, workshop or laboratory usage, project-specific training, education and outreach, and other justified project costs

Grant funding is paid in arrears on a cost recovery basis against agreed milestones (no more than six a year). The lead must claim at least 20% of the grant; international partner costs are capped at 20% of the grant, subcontractors at 20% of overall funding, and travel and subsistence at 30% of the grant value. Grant rates follow the subsidy control streamlined RDI scheme (for example 70% of eligible costs for a small enterprise doing industrial research, 80% FEC for universities, 100% for public sector and non-profit research organisations and third sector), with a 15% uplift for qualifying collaborations.

What it will not fund

  • Applications without at least one formal international project partner (a subcontractor alone does not count)
  • Projects led by organisations not based in the UK
  • More than one application per lead organisation (only the first is accepted)
  • Projects in areas of active conflict, or proposals that pose an unacceptable security risk or risk of sanctions violation
  • Organisations whose public funding for the project would exceed £3 million over the last 3 years (subsidy control cumulation limit)
  • Lobbying or attempts to influence Parliament, Government, political parties or the award of contracts and grants
  • Activities of a political or exclusively religious nature
  • Input VAT reclaimable from HMRC
  • Costs reimbursed by other public or private sector grants
  • Depreciation, interest payments, gifts to individuals, entertaining, alcohol, fines, and employee benefits and bonuses
  • Full overhead recovery or full absorption costing
  • The cost of the independent assurance report and audit costs
  • Purchase of fuel, first or business class travel, and visas
  • Late applications, incomplete applications or altered templates

How to apply

  1. Read the Call 3 guidance, FAQ, assessment criteria and Grant Funding Agreement template on GOV.UK
  2. Optionally submit the short Expression of Interest form (deadline was 14 September 2026; not assessed and not required to apply)
  3. Complete Part A, the application form, and Part C, the National Security Questionnaire, as online forms on the Government's Flexi-Grant portal
  4. Upload the cover letter, Part B budget spreadsheet, CVs, partner letters of support, two images or diagrams, and Part D overheads template or marked-up Grant Funding Agreement if needed
  5. Submit on Flexi-Grant by 3pm on 4 November 2026; no extensions and late applications are not accepted
  6. Applications are sifted for eligibility, then scored internally on criteria 1 and 2; only those scoring at least 3 out of 5 on both are assessed in full by external assessors, and a moderation panel makes the final decisions
  7. Successful applicants complete pre-award due diligence (Partner Assurance Statement, monitoring metrics, TRAC or overhead confirmation) and sign the Grant Funding Agreement

Questions go to UKSA.ibf@dsit.gov.uk; the agency will not review draft applications. It intends to fund no more than two projects involving partners from the same country. Use of AI must be declared.

Have ready

  • Part A application form (online in Flexi-Grant)
  • Cover letter stating the grant type, subsidy control category or MFA, a committing offer, the grant requested and acceptance of the standard terms
  • Part B budget breakdown spreadsheet (work packages, milestones, equipment, travel)
  • Part C National Security Questionnaire (lead organisation only, online)
  • Part D calculated overheads template, if claiming calculated overheads
  • CVs
  • Letters of support from all project partners (and optionally from other stakeholders such as international space agencies)
  • Two additional images or diagrams
  • Marked-up Grant Funding Agreement, only if requesting changes

Templates must be used unaltered, in single-spaced Calibri 11 with 1.5cm margins; omitted sections or altered templates lead to rejection. Academic organisations confirm their TRAC methodology at pre-award stage.

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