UK Space Agency Announces Second Call for Space Cluster Infrastructure Fund, Offering Over £37 Million to Boost Sector

July 26, 2026

GOV.UK UK

Overview

The UK Space Agency (UKSA) has opened its second call for the Space Cluster Infrastructure Fund (SCIF), providing at least £37 million (approx. $69 million USD) in grants to strengthen the UK’s space sector and foster economic growth. This key investment program targets R&D infrastructure projects in priority areas such as Satellite Communications (Satcom), In-Space Assembly, Manufacturing and Servicing (ISAM), Launch, Space Domain Awareness (SDA), and Earth Observation (EO). The UK aims to enhance its international leadership in the space industry through this initiative.

In Depth

Key Findings

The UK Space Agency (UKSA) has launched the second call for proposals for its ‘Space Cluster Infrastructure Fund (SCIF),’ a major investment program designed to bolster the domestic space industry and drive economic growth. Through this call, UKSA will provide at least £37 million (approximately $69 million USD, assuming £1 = $1.85 USD) in grants, aiming to support strategic infrastructure development across the UK’s burgeoning space sector.

Fund Details and Priority Areas

SCIF is an investment program specifically dedicated to research and development (R&D) infrastructure, with a targeted focus on key priority areas within the UK’s space industry. Specifically, infrastructure projects in the following domains are eligible for grant funding:

Satellite Communications (Satcom): Development and testing infrastructure for next-generation satellite communication systems, including broadband and quantum communication.
In-Space Assembly, Manufacturing and Servicing (ISAM): Facilities and testing capabilities for on-orbit satellite assembly, repair, refueling, and debris removal technologies.
Launch: Ground infrastructure and technological development to support commercial launch capabilities from the UK.
Space Domain Awareness (SDA): Sensing and data processing infrastructure for monitoring space situational awareness, tracking space debris, and analyzing potential threats.
Earth Observation (EO): Advanced infrastructure for Earth observation data collection and analysis to support climate change monitoring, resource management, and disaster surveillance.

These investments are strategically aimed at enhancing the UK’s international competitiveness across the entire space industry value chain.

Background & Industry Context

The UK government has positioned the space industry as one of the pillars of its national growth strategy, vigorously promoting industrial diversification and technological innovation. Particularly in the context of post-Brexit economic restructuring, the space sector is seen as a crucial area for generating high-value employment and expanding export opportunities. SCIF aims to accelerate private sector innovation and strengthen the entire supply chain through concentrated investments in technology areas deemed strategically important by the government.

Strategic Significance & Outlook

The implementation of the second SCIF call will serve as a powerful catalyst for further growth and technological innovation in the UK’s space industry over the coming years. Investments in emerging fields such as ISAM and SDA, in particular, will accelerate the development of technologies essential for sustainable space utilization and security. This is expected to solidify the UK’s position as a hub for space technology innovation and enhance its leadership in the global space market. The fund represents more than just financial support; it holds strategic significance in fostering collaboration and growth across the entire UK space industry ecosystem.

Source: #

Get our weekly technology intelligence — free

Receive an infographic that lets you judge at a glance whether each field’s analysis report is worth reading.

Subscribe Free — Weekly Tech Intelligence

By subscribing, you’ll receive Troy-Technical’s weekly technology intelligence newsletter.