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Satellite Applications Catapult

Programme

UK Microgravity Demonstration Programme

Satellite Applications Catapult is inviting UK organisations to propose research, testing, validation or manufacturing projects that use the ISS microgravity environment, with co-funded support for a small number of high-impact demonstrations.

What you get

Co-funding at an indicative intervention rate of approximately 15-30% of project costs, subject to technical and commercial assessment; applicants must secure additional funding. Aims to select 2-3 high-impact demonstration projects.

Applications open · no closing date announced

  • UK organisations and consortia (companies
  • universities
  • research organisations)
  • Life Sciences
  • Pharma / Biotech
  • Materials Science
  • Tech Demos
Learn more

European Space Agency (BSGN)

Accelerator

Advanced Materials and In-Orbit Manufacturing Accelerator

ESA's accelerator for advanced materials and in-orbit manufacturing, managed by Satellite Applications Catapult, supports commercial projects developing microgravity-enabled materials and manufacturing solutions toward flight readiness.

What you get

Provides 1-to-1 business maturation, in-orbit demonstration design support, funding-strategy assistance and ESA documentation support rather than a fixed cash grant; specific co-funding terms are not published. The 2nd cohort (2025) selected 3 companies from 18 applications across 10 ESA Member States.

Next round not yet announced

  • Companies in ESA Member
  • Cooperating or Associated States developing advanced materials or in-orbit manufacturing solutions
  • Materials Science
  • In-Space Manufacturing
  • 3D Printing
Learn more

European Space Agency (BSGN)

Accelerator

Agri-Food Industry Accelerator

ESA's accelerator connecting the European agri-food sector with commercial space and microgravity research, supporting projects that use LEO or space-enabled technologies for food and agriculture applications.

What you get

Managing Partner STAM, in partnership with SCM Europe, appointed June 2026. New open calls are due to be presented at Space for Inspiration 2026 (Copenhagen, September 2026); funding terms not yet published.

Next round not yet announced

  • Companies
  • start-ups
  • research organisations and industrial players in the European agri-food ecosystem
  • Agrifood
  • Tech Demos
Learn more

European Commission (Horizon Europe)

Grant

EU Space Research Call 2026

Horizon Europe's 2026 EU Space Research call funds projects strengthening Europe's space competitiveness and technological autonomy across eight topics; some topics touch in-orbit technology demonstration relevant to microgravity ventures.

What you get

Total call budget EUR90.97 million across eight topics spanning access to space, satellite applications, space science and critical space technologies; per-project award amounts vary by topic and are not published as a single headline figure. Not all topics are microgravity-specific.

Closes 3 Sep 2026

  • Entities in EU Member States and Horizon Europe associated countries (typically consortia)
  • Tech Demos
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European Innovation Council

Accelerator

EIC Accelerator

The EIC Accelerator backs individual deep-tech start-ups and SMEs with blended grant-and-equity finance; in-orbit manufacturing and microgravity ventures at TRL 5-8 can apply alongside all other deep-tech sectors.

What you get

Blended finance (grant plus equity) for a single company (not a consortium) at Technology Readiness Level 5-8; 2026 indicative budget EUR634 million (EUR414m Open call / EUR220m Challenges call). Short proposals may be submitted at any time; full proposals are evaluated at six annual cut-offs (7 Jan, 4 Mar, 6 May, 8 Jul, 2 Sep, 4 Nov 2026).

Closes 2 Sep 2026

  • Single high-risk
  • high-potential start-ups and SMEs (deep tech
  • TRL 5-8) in EU/Horizon Europe associated countries
  • Tech Demos
  • In-Space Manufacturing
Learn more

CNES (Connect by CNES), ESA-sponsored

Grant

PULSER

PULSER is an ESA-sponsored, CNES-administered zero-equity funding scheme for companies developing satellite-enabled innovations, with rolling monthly review and three funding tiers from early feasibility through commercialisation.

Award up to

€2M

EUR, as published by the funder

Zero-equity financial support ranging from EUR60,000 (Kick Start scheme) up to EUR2 million or more (Commercialisation Project scheme); co-financing up to 80% for start-ups/SMEs and up to 50% for larger organisations. CNES Selection Committee meets monthly.

Applications open · no closing date announced

  • Companies of any size developing satellite-enabled innovations
  • including space exploration systems
  • Tech Demos
  • In-Space Manufacturing
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European Space Agency (Business Applications and Space Solutions)

Grant

Kick-starts Open Call

ESA's Kick-starts scheme co-funds early feasibility studies for new commercial ideas that use a satellite communications, Earth observation or navigation asset; open to all sectors, not exclusively microgravity or in-orbit manufacturing.

Award up to

€75,000

EUR, as published by the funder

Up to EUR75,000 per contract at 75% ESA co-financing (maximum total project cost EUR100,000). Evaluated in recurring batches; requires incorporating at least one space asset (satellite communications, Earth observation or navigation).

Closes 28 Aug 2026

  • Businesses in ESA participating Member States
  • any sector
  • using a space asset
  • Tech Demos
Learn more