STORY
The Government has announced more than £62 million in funding for British businesses, universities and researchers to develop homegrown space technology. Ministers said the investment would strengthen national resilience, improve satellite communications and help protect the UK’s independence in a strategically important sector.
The funding was announced by Space Minister Liz Lloyd at the Farnborough International Airshow on Monday 20 July 2026. The UK Space Agency said the money would support new satellite communications systems, space innovation projects and technologies designed to help monitor and protect assets in orbit.
The Government said space-based services were increasingly important to daily life and national security, including broadband for remote communities and mobile connectivity on trains, aircraft and ships. Ministers said building more domestic capability would reduce dependence on overseas technologies and strengthen Britain’s ability to act independently. The package includes £42 million for the Connectivity in Low Earth Orbit programme, known as C-LEO. The programme is opening its third funding round for UK businesses, universities and research organisations developing satellite communications technology.
Projects applying for C-LEO funding must focus on at least one of five areas: on-board processing, active antennas, optical links, networking and routing, or user terminals. The latest round will bring total C-LEO funding for UK organisations to up to £77 million. A further £20 million will be made available through the National Space Innovation Programme. The funding call will support industry, universities and research organisations, with projects due to begin in April 2027.