Space Clusters Infrastructure Fund Call 2 2026: At Least £37 Million for UK Space Facilities and Shared R&D Infrastructure
The UK Space Agency is inviting Expressions of Interest for the second Space Clusters Infrastructure Fund round, which will provide at least £37 million for UK space-sector facilities, equipment and infrastructure ahead of a competitive funding call later in 2026.
Space Clusters Infrastructure Fund Call 2 2026: At Least £37 Million for UK Space Facilities and Shared R&D Infrastructure
The UK Space Agency is inviting Expressions of Interest (EOIs) for the second round of the Space Clusters Infrastructure Fund (SCIF). The programme is intended to build or improve the facilities, equipment and shared capabilities that allow UK space businesses and researchers to develop, test, manufacture, qualify and commercialise technologies. The next round is expected to issue at least £37 million in grant funding, with the programme running from 2026 through 2030.
The current form is an early-stage EOI rather than the final grant application. It is non-mandatory and is not scored, so submitting it does not guarantee an invitation, an award or formal eligibility for the later competition. It is still useful for organisations with a credible infrastructure idea because the UK Space Agency will use responses to understand demand, project concepts, funding needs and possible collaborations. Applicants who consent may also have their responses shared with a relevant UK space cluster lead for feedback and introductions.
The EOI closes at 12:00pm on Friday 21 August 2026. The official announcement says reviews will happen as responses arrive, so a team that wants feedback should submit before the closing time rather than waiting for the last day. The full competitive call is expected later in 2026, but its final assessment rules and monitoring criteria have not yet been published. This guide separates what is confirmed now from what applicants should prepare for the later stage.
Key details
| Detail | Confirmed information |
|---|---|
| Opportunity | Space Clusters Infrastructure Fund, Call 2 |
| Funder | UK Space Agency |
| Current stage | Non-mandatory Expression of Interest |
| Funding planned | At least £37 million in the next grant round |
| Individual award | Not confirmed at the EOI stage |
| Programme period | 2026 to 2030 |
| EOI deadline | 12:00pm, 21 August 2026 |
| Who can send an EOI | Any organisation interested in a potential SCIF project idea |
| Formal-call lead rule | UK companies may lead; public bodies may join consortia but cannot lead |
| Intended assets | Space R&D, testing, manufacturing, qualification and related infrastructure |
| Official contact | Use the contact route supplied with the formal call when published; the EOI itself is submitted through the linked form |
| Official source | UK Space Agency SCIF Call 2 announcement |
What SCIF is designed to fund
SCIF focuses on infrastructure rather than a single company’s ordinary research project. The UK Space Agency describes the fund as an investment in facilities, equipment and capability that can serve the broader space ecosystem. Examples in the official FAQ include laboratories, test facilities, cleanrooms, specialist equipment, digital manufacturing capability, data infrastructure, launch-related capability and advanced-materials facilities. The list is not presented as a closed catalogue, so an applicant should explain the infrastructure need and its users instead of forcing a project into a superficial category.
The central question is whether a proposed asset removes a real bottleneck for UK space activity. A useful project might make environmental testing available to companies that cannot afford their own chamber, expand manufacturing capacity for a regional supply chain, provide qualification infrastructure for new components, or create a shared platform through which universities and businesses can move technologies toward commercial deployment. The facility should have a use beyond the applicant’s immediate internal need.
The programme is also concerned with economic and strategic outcomes. The announcement links SCIF to growth in UK space capabilities, private investment, high-value jobs, stronger supply chains and the movement of technologies from development through commercial deployment. A compelling EOI therefore needs more than a shopping list of equipment. It should show how the proposed asset will be used, by whom, where it will be located, and why public support is needed now.
Who should consider applying
The EOI is open to any organisation interested in submitting a possible SCIF project idea. That broad rule makes the current form suitable for early exploration by companies, universities, research and technology organisations, cluster bodies and potential consortium members. It should not be read as confirmation that every organisation will be able to lead the later grant proposal.
The FAQ confirms that UK-based companies, including SMEs and start-ups, may apply to the formal call when it opens if they meet the final eligibility requirements. Public bodies and government organisations may participate in a consortium where they add value or support delivery, but they cannot lead a formal proposal. The FAQ also encourages early-stage companies to consider a consortium where partners would strengthen delivery, match funding, user access or commercial sustainability.
The best fit is likely to be an organisation that can demonstrate a wider user base. A proposal led by a university may be strong if it gives industry access to a facility and has a credible operating model. A company may be a good fit if the asset addresses a documented constraint for its supply chain and other users. A cluster or partnership may be useful when the project’s value depends on regional coordination. Organisations that only need routine internal equipment, with no convincing wider access or ecosystem benefit, should be cautious about investing time in a bid.
What to put in the Expression of Interest
The EOI form is structured around five areas: background, benefits, finance, delivery confidence, and privacy. It asks for the organisation and contact details, a proposal name, the total proposal value including the grant, the proposed UK Space Agency grant value, and the proposed match value. It also asks for a short project outline with a maximum of 1,000 characters.
The benefits section asks applicants to explain the impact on their organisation and local space ecosystem, each within a 1,000-character limit, and to identify the UK Space Agency space categories that apply. The finance section asks for projected UKSA grant spend for each financial year from 2026–27 through 2029–30, project partners, whether partners have a UK presence, and the proposed source of match funding. It also asks whether the applicant is open to speaking with a potential investor.
The delivery-confidence questions request the top three delivery risks and an outline of how the project will remain financially, operationally and commercially sustainable over the long term. The privacy section asks whether the applicant consents to sharing the response with relevant UK Space Cluster Network leads. The FAQ states that proposal information will not be shared with third parties without the applicant’s prior agreement.
Because Microsoft Forms may not save partially completed responses, the official FAQ recommends preparing longer answers separately and copying them into the form. This is especially important for the project outline, benefits, risks and sustainability answers. Keep a dated copy of the submitted text, the figures entered in the financial fields and any confirmation screen or email.
How the current process works
The EOI opened on 20 July 2026 and closes at noon on 21 August. The official announcement links directly to the form. The UK Space Agency will review responses to understand potential project ideas, infrastructure needs, funding requirements and collaboration opportunities. The FAQ expressly says that the EOI is not scored and does not determine eligibility for the formal funding call.
Where an applicant consents, the relevant space cluster lead may review the EOI and provide written feedback to the UK Space Agency. Cluster involvement can help identify potential partners, local priorities, cross-cluster opportunities, skills needs, supply-chain benefits and possible conflicts of interest. It may also help an early-stage company find a stronger consortium structure before the outline proposal stage.
The formal competitive funding call is expected later in 2026. The detailed call documentation, including final eligibility requirements, assessment criteria, monitoring arrangements and any specific award limits, is not confirmed in the current announcement. Applicants should therefore avoid describing the EOI as an approved grant or assuming that the amount typed into the form will be the final award. The confirmed funding figure is the programme’s minimum planned envelope of £37 million, not a guaranteed amount for any individual respondent.
How to build a credible project concept
Start with the infrastructure gap. Describe the facility or capability that does not currently exist at the required scale, location, cost or quality. Then identify the users who have experienced the gap. Letters or short statements from prospective users can help demonstrate that the need is real, although the EOI guidance does not require a particular supporting-document package at this stage.
Next, define the asset in operational terms. Explain what will be built, purchased, upgraded or connected; where it will be located; what capacity it will provide; and when users could access it. If the proposal includes specialised equipment, link each major item to a user need and a measurable capability. Avoid presenting a procurement list without describing the service or outcome the infrastructure will provide.
Make the regional and national case separately. The regional case might cover cluster development, local jobs, training, suppliers and access for nearby SMEs. The national case might cover a strategically important capability, reduced dependence on overseas facilities, stronger supply-chain resilience or improved routes to commercialisation. The FAQ makes clear that SCIF is intended to deliver both local ecosystem benefits and nationally significant capability.
Finally, show how the facility will survive after the grant. A credible model could include user fees, anchor customers, institutional support, follow-on investment or a consortium operating agreement. The applicant does not need to claim certainty, but it should identify assumptions, risks and the evidence behind its demand and revenue projections.
Match funding and financial preparation
The current EOI asks for a total proposal value, the proposed UKSA grant value and the proposed match value. That means applicants should establish a preliminary financing model before completing the form. The source has not confirmed an individual award size or final intervention rate for Call 2, so figures should be presented as a well-supported proposal rather than as an entitlement.
List the likely sources of match funding and distinguish money that is committed from money that is still being sought. Possible sources may include the applicant’s own funds, partner contributions, institutional capital or private investment, but the applicant should use only sources it can evidence and that will be acceptable under the eventual call rules. If a project depends on an investor who has not yet agreed, describe that dependency as a risk rather than treating it as secured finance.
Break the proposed spending across the four financial years requested in the form. The profile should follow procurement, construction, installation, commissioning and operations milestones. A front-loaded equipment purchase with no explanation of installation or user-readiness can look less credible than a phased plan tied to delivery gates. Also check whether the facility’s long-term operating costs are included in the sustainability story, even if they are not part of the proposed grant request.
Common mistakes to avoid
The most serious mistake is treating the EOI as the full grant competition. It is a route to communicate a project idea and seek ecosystem feedback, not a scored award application. Do not claim that an EOI submission secures funding or an invitation.
Another mistake is proposing a private asset with no clear shared benefit. SCIF is aimed at infrastructure that strengthens the wider UK space sector. Explain access, users, pricing or allocation principles, and the partnerships that make the asset useful beyond one organisation.
Do not overstate the amount available. At least £37 million is planned for the round, but the official source has not published individual award limits. Treat the grant figure entered in the EOI as a proposal assumption until the formal call says otherwise.
Teams should also avoid leaving the match-funding field until the end. An unsupported contribution can undermine the entire delivery model. Similarly, do not omit the three main risks. Procurement, planning, technical integration, demand, staffing, permissions and operating-cost risks are more persuasive when they come with owners and mitigations.
Finally, keep within the form’s character limits and prepare the answers outside Microsoft Forms. A polished short answer is more useful than a long narrative that is truncated or fails to save.
Frequently asked questions
Is the EOI itself a grant application?
No. It is an early, non-mandatory expression of interest. It is not scored and does not determine eligibility for the later formal funding call.
How much can one organisation receive?
No individual award amount is confirmed in the current EOI materials. The UK Space Agency says the next SCIF round will issue at least £37 million in total grant funding.
Can a start-up take part?
Yes. The FAQ says SMEs and start-ups can submit an EOI and may apply to the formal call if they meet its requirements. A consortium may be more suitable where partners are needed for delivery, match funding, demand or long-term sustainability.
Can a public body lead the formal proposal?
No. Public bodies may participate in a consortium, but the FAQ says they are not eligible to lead a formal proposal. The final call documentation should be checked when published.
What happens if I consent to cluster sharing?
The UK Space Agency may share the EOI with the relevant UK Space Cluster Network lead. That lead may provide feedback or help identify partners and opportunities. The FAQ says proposal information will not be shared with another third party without prior agreement.
Where can I find the form?
Use the form linked from the official SCIF Call 2 announcement. Prepare longer answers separately because the FAQ warns that Microsoft Forms may not save partial responses.
Official links and next steps
Read the official Space Clusters Infrastructure Fund Call 2 announcement and its official frequently asked questions before submitting. Confirm the current closing time, open the linked EOI form, and save your written answers in a local working document. Contact the relevant UK space cluster if you need ecosystem feedback and decide whether to consent to referral.
Before the 21 August deadline, prepare a concise infrastructure case, a list of likely users, a four-year spending profile, a preliminary match-funding plan, three delivery risks and a long-term sustainability explanation. Then monitor UK Space Agency updates for the formal competitive call later in 2026. The final rules will control who may lead, what costs are eligible, how projects are assessed and how awards are monitored.