UK Government Opens Competition for Satellite Communications Business Funding

The UK Government has made a further investment to boost the UK space sector. It has unveiled a new competition offering £15 million ($16.8 million) in funding for UK businesses that want to play a key role in developing new satellite communications technology. The UK Government unveiled the plan Oct. 17.

The competition, running until next spring, is open to organizations developing ambitious technologies across the satellite communications ecosystem. It will prioritize customer needs, support sustainable growth and catalyze further investment into the UK space sector, which already employs 47,000 people. Ideas can focus on creating entire new satellite constellations, ground systems, or delivering new services to customers, and will be funded through the UK Space Agency’s leading role in the European Space Agency (ESA) Advanced Research in Telecommunications Services (ARTES) program.

The £15 million fund comes as a new report shows every £1 invested in ESA generates an overall return of £11.80 for the UK economy. The Impact Evaluation of UK Investment in the European Space Agency shows the UK is in the top three nations in terms of scientific output, with the US and Germany. This is a measure of the publication rate per every £1 invested among key space-faring countries.

“I am proud to be representing the UK space sector as we discuss our ambitions ahead of the ESA Council of Ministers next month. There are a series of important programmes on the table and I want to harness opportunities in space to grow the UK economy, create jobs and inspire young people into STEM careers.

We’re also making new funding available now to strengthen the UK’s position as a world leader in the satellite communications market, and I look forward to seeing the results of the competition,” UK Science Minister Nusrat Ghani said in a statement.