skip to content

International Development Research @ Cambridge

 

This is the second call for projects under the UK Space Agency’s International Partnerships Programme. IPP is a £152M multi-year programme which will use the space sectors space knowledge, expertise and capability to provide a sustainable, economic or societal benefit to undeveloped nations and developing economies.

Earth Observation (EO)

Centre for Earth Observation Instrumentation (CEOI) 10th EO technology call

The CEOI has issued a call on behalf of the UK Space Agency, requesting proposals for the next generation of Earth observation instrumentation. Visit the CEOI website for more information.

 

Horizon 2020

The 2018 space call in Horizon 2020 has been published. View the topic text and download the call documentation.

Horizon 2020 (H2020) is the successor programme to the EU FP7 programme and is the EU’s main instrument for the funding of research and innovation in science, engineering and technology.

H2020 support in the UK

The Agency’s H2020 UK website offers a complete guide to H2020 funding and will help you to identify which funding stream to apply for and explain how to apply. For more support in making applications for H2020 funding, contact the H2020 UK team.

Email: maria.adams@ukspaceagency.bis.gsi.gov.uk

H2020 UK team 
UK Space Agency 
Polaris House 
North Star Avenue 
Swindon 
Wiltshire 
SN2 1SZ 

 

Education and Outreach

Announcement of Opportunity

We are making up to £140K available to organisations that are seeking to run schemes that support the education and outreach aims and objectives of the UK Space Agency’s education programme.

Visit the Announcement of Opportunity page for more information and how to apply.

 

International Partnership Programme (IPP)

Call for proposals

This is the second call for projects under the UK Space Agency’s International Partnerships Programme. IPP is a £152M multi-year programme which will use the space sectors space knowledge, expertise and capability to provide a sustainable, economic or societal benefit to undeveloped nations and developing economies. The UK Space Agency will award grants to successful industrial, academic and 3rd sector organisations to run projects addressing real-world problems with international partners in developing countries.

The call:

  • addresses real world issues in countries on the Development Assistance Committee (DAC) list
  • will only accept projects proposals which have a suitable international partner involved in the project
  • is limited to projects who will provide a level of match-funding

Workshops:

  • The IPP team will be holding proposal workshops in June and August.
  • We will be holding Monitoring and Evaluation workshops in July.
  • Please contact IPP@ukspaceagency.bis.gsi.gov.uk and ask to be added to the ‘Basecamp’ site to be kept up to date with these workshop dates.

 

 International Space University: scholarship scheme

The UK Space Agency funds a competitive scholarship scheme to support UK citizens who wish to attend the International Space University’s nine week Space Studies Program and one year MSS Program.

The International Space University (ISU) provides graduate-level training at its Central Campus in Strasbourg, France, and at locations around the world, covering a core curriculum of all disciplines related to space programmes and enterprises: space science, space engineering, systems engineering, space policy and law, business and management, and space and society.

The Agency is making available a total of £30,000 as scholarships for UK citizens attending the ISU in 2017. These scholarships are to be shared between successful candidates. The ISU may be able to advise on the possibility of further funding, but it is expected that each successful applicant will have to find at least €1000 from their own resources.

Successful applicants will be expected to assist the UK Space Agency by taking part in publicity activities in the UK after completion of their courses.

How to apply for scholarships

Apply for ISU 2017.

Any UK citizen wishing to apply for UK Space Agency support for the Space Studies Program (SSP) or the MSS Program should first apply to the ISU for the program. Applications and further instructions are available on the ISU website. Please indicate on your application to the ISU that you would like to be considered for UK Space Agency funding.

The UK Space Agency will then consider the all applications submitted to ISU by UK citizens for funding. The Agency may request further information and/or interview candidates before awarding a UK Space Agency ISU grant. The level of any grant awarded will be decided by the interview panel including members from UK Space Agency and the Space Education Trust in consultation with ISU. Evidence of external support will be a positive factor in choosing which applicants to fund.

Any money awarded will be paid directly to the ISU on behalf of the successful applicants.

Applications for ISU 2018 will open again in Autumn 2017. To be considered for UK Space Agency funding please apply to the ISU by March 2018.

 

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.

 

Space Exploration - Aurora and CREST funding

Aurora programme

The UK Space Agency is responsible for the national Aurora programme, previously funded by the Science and Technology Facilities Council. The programme funds both industry and academia in the fields of planetary science, astrobiology, space instrumentation and the development of new technologies to exploit the opportunities of space missions.

This programme consists of the following elements.

Aurora science - national funding is available for science related to the Aurora space exploration programme.

Knowledge transfer - national funding for space to non-space technology development.

Aurora outreach - national funding for outreach opportunities related to the Aurora space exploration programme.

CREST - national funding for Collaborative Research in Exploration Systems and Technology.

Announcement of Opportunities

Aurora Science

Knowledge Transfer

CREST

 

Space for all - community funding scheme

The UK Space Agency is making up to £45K available under its “Space for All” community funding scheme. This is a competitive process which offers small grants up to a maximum of £10,000 for each award. The scheme is run to support the education and outreach aims and objectives of the UK Space Agency education programme, as set out in its Education and Skills Strategy. This in turn supports the aims of the UK Space Agency by encouraging the use of space as an inspiring context for teaching and learning, by addressing the skills needs of the space sector and by raising awareness of the UK’s space programme and STEM subjects in general.

What projects are suitable?

Projects may be targeted at specific audiences and may include delivery of:

  • curriculum enrichment activities
  • projects to promote careers in the space sector
  • pilot projects to demonstrate plans for larger scale projects in these areas

We anticipate the following schedule:

  • opening of award scheme – 12 December 2017
  • deadline for proposals to be received – 5pm on 9 February 2018
  • projects to be started no earlier than 1 April 2018
  • projects to be completed - 29 February 2020

 

Space for Smarter Government Programme (SSGP)

Enabling the public sector to save money, innovate and make more effective policy decisions by using space technology and data.

Call for proposals

We welcome expressions of interest for projects that help the public sector take steps towards making satellite data products and services part of routine operational use. The SSGP ambition is to help the public sector create sustainable operational services from satellite data and products to enable smarter, more efficient operations, reduce risk and enhance policy making.

The call: 

  • is open to any organisation inc public sector, academic and commercial companies
  • could be used to build a business case, host workshops, reduce risk, demonstrate ideas
  • could be used to help leverage monies from other sources or be part of a bigger programme
  • should cover use of one or more of Earth Observation, Satellite Communications, Position, Navigation and Timing by one or more public sector end users

Full details and criteria can be found on the SSGP website.

 

Statement of interest to outline a new project

The UK Space Agency funds new space science and exploration projects. To begin this process, statements of interest should be sent directly to the UK Space Agency.

The SOI process and peer review of projects

As appropriate, the UK Space Agency Science Programme Advisory Committee (SPAC) and Aurora Advisory Committee (AurAC) will review statements of interest. The UK Space Agency will then provide feedback to applicants on whether or not a full proposal shall be invited. The Science and Technology Facilities Council science committee also provides scientific advice to the Agency.

How to make an application

If you have an ‘ad hoc’ idea, ask the agency first, then complete an SOI and submit it and an advisor from the UK Space Agency will review it.

Before submitting any new proposal, the applicant must liaise with an Agency Space Science or Exploration Programme Manager. The Programme Manager will decide if the applicants are required to submit an SOI and provide advice on the timing of a submission.

Either SPAC or AurAC will consider the SOI and recommend if a full proposal should be invited for consideration by the space agency peer review panel.

 

Please find further information here.

Welcome to Cambridge Global Challenges

Cambridge Global Challenges is the Interdisciplinary Research Centre (IRC) of the University of Cambridge that aims to enhance the contribution of its research towards addressing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030, with a particular focus on the poorest half of the world’s population.

 

Join the Interdisciplinary Research Centre

Register to Cambridge Global Challenges and to the IRC's mailing list here.

 

Learn about the support we provide 

Learn how Cambridge Global Challenges can support your research here.

 

Contact us

coordinator@gci.cam.ac.uk​