Notice

FAQs

Updated 4 July 2023

1. Do Harwell or Westcott count as the greater South East? Or are either or both of those clusters outside of that zone?

Yes. Both Harwell and Westcott are included in the ‘Greater South East’. We will distribute a map as part of the competition paperwork.

2. Are local authorities eligible for the call?

Yes, all UK companies, authorities and institutions are eligible. However, the source of your match funding cannot originate from another UK or EU fund.

3. Would academia be seen as a project partner or sub-contractor (or both)?

It will depend on the project and the nature of the relationship. In reality Academia could be lead, sub contractor, or project partner. There are several factors but one of the key ones will be the relationship to the project, i.e. what is the role of academia, how involved Academia is, how much cost is flowing to them. If there is any IP ownership, that may suggest more of a partner then a sub contractor relationship also.

4. Is there a definition of the scope “Building Space R&D infrastructure needed to make space products mission-ready and available to be launched into commercial markets”?

SCIF has been developed following extensive industry engagement and independent research that identifies the need for the UK to build its capability and capacity in testing and qualifying space products for commercial markets. The wording is deliberately wide reaching to allow a range of proposals to be considered, that meet SCIF objectives and maximise the benefit to the wider economy.

5. Can you confirm if University cash funding would be classed as eligible match contribution?

Yes. University cash funding would be classed as eligible funding, as long as it is in accordance with the guidelines detailed in the competition paperwork.

6. Will extra weighting be given for projects that will reduce carbon costs to the space industry?

This is identified within the Announcement of Opportunity (s.21. Appx. B). A specific weighting in relation to carbon reduction is not included.

7. Do Research & Technology Organisations (RTOs) apply on the same basis as Academia?

Yes. Announcement of Opportunity S.20.2, Appx B refers: Research organisations undertaking non-economic activity will be funded as follows:

Academia & RTOs: 60% of full economic costs

8. Can the funding be used to develop a multi-sector facility, by a non-space organisation looking to expand into the space sector?

This will depend on the amount of ‘space’ relevance and alignment with the SCIF Objectives.

9. Will SCIF fund the operating costs of the facilities and assets that it funds?

The SCIF scope does not include ongoing operating and maintenance costs. We will be looking for assurances that these costs are included in your forward budgets as part of our assessment.

10. What constitutes ‘all match funded must end by 31 March.’  Does this mean a supplier has been paid. Or an invoice received from suppliers?

The value of the final milestone payment must be incurred by 31 March 2025. This should be supported by cost engineer or similar certificate to validate that the work has been completed and the values claimed are accurate and evidenced as per the grant claims process.

11. How does the grant funding work for the purchase of assets, i.e. would SME have to front 100% of the costs? Are other payment mechanisms available?

SCIF is only able to make milestone payments based on actual costs incurred, and supported by an invoice and with evidence of payment being made. The UK Space AgencyUannot make advance payments against milestones.

12. Can Catapults use core funding as match funding contributions?

Core funding to Catapults, as with all domestic public funding, cannot count towards your match funding contribution.

13. How will the Programme provide updates to these FAQs during the competition period?

All answers will be pushed out to attendees from today and on the UK Space Agency website from the launch date. We will also be running regular surgeries throughout the competition.

14. Does spacecraft fall inside the scope of SCIF?

Yes, it is likely to be included but this is classed as a sensitive market by Subsidy Advice Unit, however, the threshold for subsidies here is £5m.

15. Is testing and other equipment for space craft in scope, or just the amortised amount?

Capital costs directly associated with the design, development and bringing an asset into service, are included. These must be based on actual costs incurred, and supported by an invoice, with evidence of payment being made.

16. Can we run a tendering process for building works in advance of award announcement?

Competition is made without commitment and no guarantee can be made. Any funding committed by organisations cannot count towards match funding. GFAs prohibit the inclusion of costs incurred prior to any award. Any contracts entered into prior to award of the GFA, is made at the applicants own risk.

17. What is the earliest date from which match funding can be captured?

Only from the point of the Grant being awarded. Work undertaken ahead of grant award or post grant expiry does not class as match funding as it is outside of the programme being funded.

18. Does the UK Space Agency have a wish-list, regarding infrastructure that it wants to see established that would be what it considers of strategic significance (not only for commercial but for government agendas)?

SCIF has taken a market led approach so that industry does not need to retrofit proposal to our criteria. The National Space Strategy includes UK Government’s intentions in this area.

19. Does all the infrastructure need to be in the UK?

Physical assets must be UK based.

20. Can we submit multiple proposals?

Yes, but please recognise that this is a competitive process, designed to assess the best proposals from industry.

21. Is the application paperwork available on the UK Space Agency website?

Competition paperwork including submission templates and evidence requirements will be available on the launch date on the UK Space Agency website.

22. Is there advantage from also serving the objectives of the Defence Space Strategy in addition to the NSS in an application?

SCIF is interested in delivering the objectives listed in the NSS and programme documentation. If a proposal is able to demonstrate additional objectives met through it’s funding, these should be clearly indicated in the response documentation.

23. What if the infrastructure is not limited to a single location, including those which fall inside / outside Greater South East?

In most instances, the benefit from infrastructure investment is likely to accrue in close proximity to the asset. So if the majority of the asset value is outside GSE then the UK Space Agency will look to assess proposals on this basis. Where the majority of the asset base is inside the GSE, then we will look to make our assessment on this basis.

24. The 45:55 seems like a blunt instrument, the South East is well served, the cost of accessing facilities from Cornwall, Wales, the North and Scotland is easier than say the South and Middle England. Will the existing regional provision be taken into account?

The SCIF levelling up target (55% of R&D Investment falling outside of the GSE) recognises the need for a more equitable distribution of public funding across the UK and begins to address some of the shortfall from prior years. The SCIF targets do not take into account existing regional provisions. However, SCIF Objective #2 (Connecting) seeks out opportunities that will enable the entire UK space sector to become better connected, including local cluster networks, and R&D infrastructure.

25. What if we need to provide additional information above the word limits/ attachment cap.

Limits have been identified to ensure proposals can be evaluated within the identified timescales. In the event that you feel the page limit is restrictive please raise a clarification question in accordance with the call documents. The UK Space Agency can then assess if acceptable raise the page limit/ attachment cap. Any information provided above the agreed page limits will not be considered.

26. Is the funding limit (£5m and £10m) pro-rata to companies, i.e. x% of a proposal relates to space craft and y% ‘other’ space?

The funding limit relates to an individual project over the last 3 years, rather than a company or indeed series of projects. Full guidance can be found in the Statutory Controls Statutory Guidance document: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-subsidy-control-statutory-guidance.

27. How does the Agency measure/differentiate the North Star elements of future investment and future revenue, or are they counted as being the same value?

The guidance included in the Announcement of Opportunity explains this in detail. In summary, this includes (i) Additional revenue generated from goods and services as a result of UK Space Agency support (total value £) (ii) Private investment generated as a result of UK Spacsupport (total value £) (iii) Source of Additional Investment: Foreign/Domestic.

28. Can the milestones be front end loaded, or weighted towards up front asset purchases?

Milestone profiles are offered in the Announcement of Opportunity, proposers should be wary of attempting to procure high value assets in advance of need, not least because of the effect on warranties, etc.

29. Does the fund cover high end ground infrastructure / manufacturing?

Yes, in principle as long as the infrastructure is aligned with the SCIF Objectives.

30. Will assets (including land, buildings and equipment) purchased with the grant, be owned by the Grant Recipient and what rights will the Authority have over the assets?

Any purchases made with the grant funding will be fully owned by the Grant Recipient. Please note that fixed assets are not eligible for funding under this grant call.

31. Does support from local government enterprises (e.g. LEPs and/or those of the devolved nations) count towards match funding?

Match-funding for SCIF proposals cannot be derived from any other public funding source. Whilst LEPs and/or those of the devolved nations are not ruled out as a funding source, there would need to be evidence of where the funding comes from to demonstrate that it is not ultimately derived from public funding.

32. Can land values count towards an applicant’s match-funding contribution?

Land is not considered an eligible match funding contribution. ‘Land improvements’ however would be eligible - meaning significant expenditure to prepare the land for its intended use, which would include the things that SCIF intendeds to pay for such as infrastructure, building, or equipment.

33. Our company is expanding and considering locating to the UK. Are we eligible to apply for funding?

Only UK registered companies are eligible for the SCIF funding call.

34. Does a commitment to providing ‘rent free accommodation’ count as match funding?

‘Grace & favour’ rent from a property under an existing lease, or owned outright, would not count towards match funding, rather it would be considered a prior purchase that would have existed regardless of the opportunity being funded under the terms of the GFA. Also please consider that all match-funding contributions from the applicant need to be concluded by March 2025.

35. Can forecasts of future markets, including size, revenues or jobs created be considered in-scope? If so, what kind of ‘evidence’ would be required?

This is an R&D focused funding call and we do not necessarily expect you to have buyers lined up for instance – but we do need to be able to understand and assess any assumptions used to support claims such as the size of future markets, and how your proposal meets that market need. You are encouraged to provide as much evidence as possible to enable the assessors to verify any claims included in your proposal.

36. Is education/training and workforce upskilling considered to be a benefit? What about follow-on benefits, for instance the effect on partnerships and connectivity?

Education, training and workforce upskilling are certainly benefits. Please include how you have calculated the value of your benefit when returning your proposal.

Similarly, the knock-on benefits from community up-skilling, such as increased partnership opportunities should also be included. In your response, please explain how you have arrived at the value of this benefit, along with any proposed metrics the benefit will be measured by.

37. Can a discount negotiated from list prices of equipment count towards the match funding contribution?

The GFA is based on actual costs incurred, discounts from list prices cannot be considered towards the contribution. However, these should still be referenced as it can bolster the case for Value for Money of the proposal.

38. What types of companies are covered by the SCIF? Where can I find the guidance for the size category of my organisation?

All UK registered companies are eligible to apply regardless of size. The company size guidance can be found in the Announcement of Opportunity, section 20.7, which includes a table summarising the UK definition of what constitutes an SME.

39. If an organisation is part of a larger group, should the application be made on behalf of the parent company, or the subsidiary?

Either organisation can submit the application, but bear in mind that the UK Space Agency will only enter into an agreement with the organisation submitting the proposal and any evaluation will be based on the capability and resources included in the same.

The match funding rate is based on the size of the organisation receiving the grant award. In the case of a consortium bid, this will be apportioned according to the individual contributions of each consortium member.

40. Will SCIF fund other costs, i.e. balance sheet charges?

SCIF will only fund capital costs directly associated with the design, development and transition into service of any asset / proposal. These must be supported by an invoice and with evidence of payment. Balance sheet costs, including depreciation, are not included in the scope of SCIF.

41. Does SCIF provide funding to set up new manufacturing facilities to develop/manufacture space products?

SCIF is a space R&D infrastructure programme - and can be used to cover the set-up of new manufacturing facilities, so long as they are R&D related and align with the SCIF objectives (will it deliver strategic value, create jobs, connect with the UK space ecosystem, catalyse investment etc.)

42. Will SCIF retain any rights to IP during or after the grant agreement (were a proposal successful)?

SCIF is not looking to take any ownership of IP or use any project information on a Commercial basis. However, the Grant Recipient will be required to grant the Authority a non-exclusive irrevocable and royalty-free, sub-licensable, worldwide licence to use all the IPR Material for the purpose of supporting the promotion of SCIF. Legacy/pre-existing IP is also not in scope of this agreement. In the event of a successful application, we will be able to discuss any key areas of concern regarding the standard UK Space Agency Grant Funding Agreement template.

43. Can SCIF fund the development of virtual infrastructure (data and software)?

Costs for virtual aspects of your proposal can be funded by SCIF, but the resulting capability should not be solely virtual as ultimately SCIF is aimed at developing physical R&D facilities.

44. Can match support be in the form of physical and virtual assets made available to the project?

If you have equipment or services that you would usually charge for, that you will be providing as part of your match-funding contribution, these may be eligible contributions. You would need to be clear on exactly what you are providing and how any contributions have been calculated.

45. Can applicant funding contributions be confirmed in stages, or does it need to be identified (and confirmed) by the application stage?

All match funding commitments must be demonstrated in your proposal at the point of submission.

46. Are there any conditions on Assets purchased through SCIF?

The Agency expects assets created as a result of any award to be maintained in accordance with any warranty conditions, or service requirements, over the life of the Asset.

47. Can you please provide guidance on the necessary information and evidence required to support the benefits that are described in our application?

Quantifying benefits is a critical aspect of assessing the potential impact and value of a proposal. Section 4 (Catalysing Investment) is the main section in the application form where benefits are considered.

While some benefits, such as increased revenue or job creation are more straightforward to quantify, we acknowledge that proposals may also involve new technologies or intangible benefits that are more challenging to assess. In such cases, we encourage you to provide evidence and supporting information to strengthen your proposal. This approach is accompanied by an easy to follow Excel template (Annex C-2), and will ensure the benefits from your proposal are presented effectively.

48. Is the purpose of SCIF to raise TRLs, or to build the infrastructure that can enable the sector?

The latter - SCIF will enable the development of the R&D infrastructure needed to make space products mission-ready and to accelerate their entry into commercial markets, whilst making a lasting and valuable contribution to the wider UK economy.

A byproduct of a successful project delivered through SCIF may enable the raising of TRLs, but this is not the core purpose.