The UK Space Agency has opened Call 3 of its National Space Innovation Programme (NSIP), inviting proposals for UK-based space research and development projects with up to £20 million of support available. The notice was first published on 20 July 2026 and last updated on 1 October 2026.
What is on offer
The agency said it is inviting proposals for UK-based research and development projects that will deliver innovative space technologies, applications and services. According to the notice, NSIP provides co-funded grant support to de-risk high-reward projects with a clear target market.
NSIP operates open funding calls under two schemes, NSIP Kick Starter and NSIP Major Projects, which the agency said combined provide end-to-end support for innovation from concept to commercialisation.
The two funding streams
Kick Starter proposals may request grant funding between £150,000 and £1,000,000 with a maximum duration of 30 months. The agency described these projects as roughly early stage, at technology readiness levels 1 to 4, with an emphasis on highly disruptive or novel proposals.
Major Projects proposals may request grant funding between £150,000 and £2,000,000, also with a maximum duration of 30 months. The agency said these should achieve high TRLs of 5 to 9, with an emphasis on commercialisation and catalysing investment.
How to apply
Applications to NSIP Call 3 must be submitted via the Flexi-grant portal only, and the agency said emailed applications will not be assessed. Applicants are directed to an Expressions of Interest form and an Outline Proposal form.
The notice states that Outline Proposals must be submitted by 11:59pm on Friday 21 August via the Flexi-grant portal. The agency said the questions and documents required for the Flexi-grant application align to those previously requested in NSIP Call 2, and that example documents published alongside the notice are for information and guidance purposes only.
Supporting material includes an Announcement of Opportunity, a frequently asked questions document and two guidance videos: An Introduction to NSIP and Guidance for Call 3, and Guidance for Completing the NSIP Part A Application Form. The agency noted that Part A is only required for the Full Proposal.
Recent changes to the documents
The page's update log shows that on 1 October 2026 the agency updated the Full Proposal Application Form Part B, the Full Proposal Part C Mandatory National Security Questionnaire, and the HTML Announcement of Opportunity. A frequently asked questions attachment was created on 21 August 2026.
Applicants who use assistive technology are told to email correspondence@dsit.gov.uk to request accessible formats of the application documents, several of which are published as OpenDocument or Excel files.
What to do
- Submit applications only through the Flexi-grant portal, using the Expressions of Interest and Outline Proposal forms; the agency says emailed applications will not be assessed.
- Submit Outline Proposals by 11:59pm on Friday 21 August, according to the deadline stated in the notice.
- Read the Announcement of Opportunity for full details and application guidance, and the NSIP Call 3 frequently asked questions.
- Watch the two guidance videos the NSIP team produced: An Introduction to NSIP and Guidance for Call 3, and Guidance for Completing the NSIP Part A Application Form. The agency says Part A is only required for the Full Proposal.
- Check the updated attachments published on 1 October 2026, including Full Proposal Part B and the Mandatory National Security Questionnaire.
- If you need an accessible version of any document, email correspondence@dsit.gov.uk stating the format and assistive technology you use.
Key facts and where they come from
- The call offers up to £20 million of support for UK-based space projects.
The UK Space Agency's National Space Innovation Programme invites proposals for UK-based space projects, with up to £20 million of support available.
- Kick Starter grants range from £150,000 to £1,000,000 over a maximum of 30 months at TRL 1-4.
Kick Starter proposals may request grant funding between £150,000 and £1,000,000 with a maximum duration of 30 months.
- Major Projects grants range from £150,000 to £2,000,000 over a maximum of 30 months at TRL 5-9.
Major Projects proposals may request grant funding between £150,000 and £2,000,000 with a maximum duration of 30 months.
- Applications must go through the Flexi-grant portal; emailed submissions are rejected.
Applications to NSIP Call 3 must be submitted via the Flexigrant portal only, emailed applications will not be assessed
- Outline Proposals are due by 11:59pm on Friday 21 August.
Outline Proposals must be submitted by 11:59pm on Friday 21 August via the Flexi-grant portal.
- Documents including the national security questionnaire were updated on 1 October 2026.
1 October 2026 Full Proposal – Application Form – Part B – file attachment updated Full Proposal – Part C – Mandatory National Security Questionnaire – file attachment updated