Britain is betting on the satellite boom. This week the UK Space Agency launched a £42 million grant call aimed at driving innovation in low Earth orbit (LEO) communications, a move designed to position the country as a primary supplier for global constellations.
Managed through the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), the funding round – the third of its kind – targets key high-volume constellation technologies, including optical links, active antennas, regenerative processing and advanced user terminals. Grants will range from £4 million to £25 million per project, but every successful applicant must provide a compelling element of matched industry funding.
“UK Space Agency launches £42m grant call for LEO satellite innovation; applications close 7 Sept 2026.”
The first-stage application window closes on 7 September 2026, with final outcomes expected by December. The call signals the government’s push to capture a slice of the rapidly expanding LEO market, where private companies are racing to build networks of thousands of small satellites.