The Technology Strategy Board will invest up to £2 million to fund feasibility studies for innovation in the space industry. The studies should be 3 months or less and focus on accelerating commercial space technologies or developing new space-based services. Eligible projects will receive up to £25,000 in funding. The goal is to stimulate innovation and ensure small UK businesses can respond to challenges in space.

1. Technology Strategy Board
Driving Innovation
Feasibility Studies
for Innovation in Space
Competition for funding
January 2011

2. Feasibility Studies for Innovation in Space
Competition for funding
Summary This competition will focus on feasibility Each project will culminate in a short report
studies that: and, where relevant, a demonstrator.
The Technology Strategy Board is to K accelerate the development of Projects will also present their
invest up to £2m in feasibility studies to innovative commercial technologies achievements at a public ‘Collaboration
stimulate innovation across the space for space Nation’ event to be held in autumn 2011.
industry, ensuring that small and micro
K lead to new services which exploit data This competition activity complements
businesses in the UK are well-equipped
gained from space-based systems three feasibility studies competitions being
to respond to society’s greatest current
K lead on to identifiable commercial run concurrently in the areas of
and future challenges.
opportunities or will position UK technology-inspired innovation, digital
The competition builds on the growth organisations to access other public/ services and nanoscale technologies.
opportunities identified in the Space private funding where this is required
Innovation and Growth Strategy, and will for further development.
exploit the facilities and open innovation Background
culture of the International Space The competition is co-funded by South
The Technology Strategy Board became
Innovation Centre (ISIC). East England Development Agency
a partner in the British National Space
(SEEDA) which will co-fund collaborative
Feasibility studies should last up to three Centre (BNSC) in January 2009 and took
projects that:
months and each cost no more than on responsibility for UK European Space
£33,000 in total. We will fund 75% of the K have at least one industrial partner in Agency (ESA) satellite telecommunications
project cost (up to £25,000). Projects the SEEDA region and satellite navigation R&D programmes,
may be collaborative or carried out by K demonstrate the potential for significant and other aspects of innovation in UK
a single company. impact in the south east of England. civil space.
We lead activity related to innovation in
space that supports the economic growth
opportunities identified in the Space
Innovation and Growth Strategy. We also
play an important role in engaging the
space industry and UK space capability
in addressing broader challenges and
growth opportunities across a wide range
of emerging markets.
The Technology Strategy Board is supporting
the transition of BNSC to the UK Space
Agency, which will be fully operational on
1 April 2011 and is responsible for all strategic
decisions on the UK civil space programme.
SEEDA has committed funding to the
International Space Innovation Centre to
support R&D activity that drives economic
growth in the south east.
Scope
Feasibility studies should be aligned with
the objectives of one or more of the
following strategies and programmes:
K Recommendations of the Space
Innovation and Growth Strategy
(see www.spaceigs.co.uk)
02 | Technology Strategy Board

3. Feasibility Studies for Innovation in Space
Competition for funding
K Priority research themes identified in the robotics and exploration Funding allocation and
National Space Technology Roadmaps K Autonomous systems application process
to be published in January 2011 K Robotics
The Technology Strategy Board has
K SEEDA regional economic strategy K Novel power sources. allocated up to £2m to fund feasibility
K European Space Agency programmes studies that address the technical
such as Advanced Research in access to Space challenges and align with the technology
Telecommunications Systems (ARTES), K Significant cost savings in satellite areas described above. The total project
Integrated Applications Promotion, platform design and manufacture costs can be no more than £33,000 and
Global Navigation Satellite Systems K Miniaturisation and exploitation of the Technology Strategy Board will award
(GNSS) Evolutions, Climate Change micro-electro-mechanical technology grants at 75% (up to around £25,000) to
Initiative, Aurora. in space suitable projects.
Proposals must fall into one or more of the K Novel mission concepts leading to new The key criteria for assessment will be
following five market areas: commercial opportunities in earth market potential, commercial impact and
observation or telecommunications potential for success in the next steps of
Satellite telecommunications K Innovation launch solutions. development. Projects are strongly
encouraged to exploit and build on the
Addressing market opportunities for Applicants are encouraged to review the capability of the International Space
technology or applications in: scopes of concurrent feasibility studies Innovation Centre (either at Harwell or the
K Satellite broadband competitions in technology-inspired ISIC ‘spokes’).
innovation, digital services and nanoscale
K Broadcast The competition is a single-stage process
technologies, to assess the most relevant
K Transport competition in the case of cross-cutting that will open on 10 January 2011 and
K Security technologies. See www.innovateuk.org. close at midday on 10 february 2011.
Applicants will be informed of the outcome
K Environment. If you have any specific queries about the of their application by 28 february 2011.
scope of this competition please email your A competition briefing will be held in
Sensing questions to: competitions@tsb.gov.uk London on 19 January 2011 to explain
K Monitoring the planet – environment the process and we strongly recommend
and climate that applicants attend.
K Commercial earth observation Looking for partners to work on
Further details can be found in the
your project? Go to _connect
K Security and defence (security related Guidance for Applicants for this competition
(https://ktn.innovateuk.org/web/iis_
applications should not be subject (available from our website after you
comp) to find collaborators and
to any classification restrictions). have registered for this competition).
networks.
This includes innovative new detectors – note that aLL deadlines are at 12 noon.
visible, infrared and microwave, and
optical and microwave systems – both
active and passive.
Key dates
position, navigation and timing
K Services that exploit the potential Competition opens 10 January 2011
of satellite navigation
Competition briefing 19 January 2011
K Integration of satellite navigation
Competition closes 10 february 2011
capability into other products or services
K Novel techniques to enhance the Successful candidates informed 28 february 2011
security of commercial satellite Deadline for delivery of reports 17 august 2011
navigation services – encryption,
protection, interference detection. Collaboration Nation event autumn 2011
Technology Strategy Board | 03

4. Feasibility Studies for Innovation in Space
Competition for funding
Further information Competition helpline:
0300 321 4357
The feasibility studies supported under this
competition may develop into submissions
to a follow-on competition, which is under Email:
consideration for later in 2011. competitions@tsb.gov.uk
To apply for funding through this
competition and to get further details you Publicity
will need to register your interest via the
The Technology Strategy Board frequently
Competitions section of our website at
publicises the results of competitions
www.innovateuk.org.
and this includes engagement with the
It is important to allow enough time to media. All applicants will be given a
register, to read the 70-page Guidance for chance during the competition process to
Applicants and prepare your application. opt out of any publicity. Willing applicants
Note that registration can take 48 hours. will be asked to provide an agreed form of
words for use in publicity material. E-mail
Uploading your application form at least The Technology Strategy Board is a
pressoffice@tsb.gov.uk with any queries.
24 hours before the deadline will give business-led executive non-departmental
the Business Support Team time to public body, established by the
resolve any problems. See the FAQs Government. Its role is to promote and
at www.innovateuk.org under support research into, and development
Competitions for more information. and exploitation of, technology and
innovation for the benefit of UK business,
in order to increase economic growth and
improve quality of life.
The Technology Strategy Board
North Star House
North Star Avenue
Swindon
SN2 1UE
Telephone: 01793 442700
image credits:
Cover: EADS Astrium, DMC International Imaging, ESA/P Sebirot
www.innovateuk.org
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Page 3: EADS Astrium © Technology Strategy Board November 2010 T10/088
Page 4: Surrey Satellite Technology Limited Printed on 100% recycled paper.