Notice

Unlocking Space for Business SBRI early engagement webinar

Updated 5 December 2023

This notice was withdrawn on 24 January 2024

This competition has closed.

This content was presented during the Unlocking Space for Business SBRI early engagement webinar on 15 November 2023.  

1. SBRI Background  

1.1 Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI) 

• spend through SBRI £1.5 billion 
• UK Research and Innovation provide expert support and delivery.  
• 2022 Independent Report confirms the benefits of the SBRI approach and advocates for wider use within the public sector
• the benefits to the businesses awarded the funding amount to around 1.5 to 4 times the cost of the public sector investment

1.2 When might an SBRI be used? 

• pre-commercial procurement (that doesn’t exist currently) 
• outcome-driven solutions  
• requires a lead customer  
• well-defined challenges and outcomes  
• consideration and ‘buy-in’ from the wider system  

1.3 SBRI key features 

Development contracts 

• 100% funded R&D (procurement contract for R&D services) 
• UK implementation of EU pre commercial procurement 
• payment on achievement of bespoke milestones 

Contract with lead applicant 

• who may choose to sub-contract but remains accountable 
• lead applicant, or sub-contractor are the only ways organisations can be funded 

IP rests with supplier 

• certain usage rights for the Public Sector (licenses etc) 
• companies are encouraged to exploit IP and will be assessed on this basis 

Eligibility 

• open to all organisations. There is no limit on the size or type of company
• all organisations must demonstrate a route to market 

1.4 SBRI process  

SBRIs can be applied anything from Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 2-8 and can start/conclude anywhere along the process. For example if grant investments already have already surpassed feasibility studies, an SBRI could start at prototype development. 

• phase 0 - curiosity driven research  
• phase 1 - solution design 
• phase 2 - prototype development  
• phase 3 - original development and testing of limited volume of first test products/services 
• phase 4 - deployment of commercial volumes of end-products and wide diffusion of newly developed solutions

Phase 1-3 are classed as research and development/pre-commercial procurement (PCP).

Phase 4 is classed as Public Procurement of Innovative Solutions (PPI).

2. Unlocking Space for Business Programme  

Find out more about the Unlocking Space for Business Programme

2.1 SBRI phase 1: proposed competition 

Proposed competition to fund innovative feasibility studies fusing terrestrial data sources with satellite data and services, within the transport and logistics and/or financial services sectors. 

• total available funding: £2 million inclusive of VAT 
• maximum value of each contract: up to £200,000 inclusive of VAT for each project 
• length of contracts: up to 6 months 
• anticipated total number of contracts: up to 10 feasibility study R&D contracts 

The total funding available for the competition can change. The funders have the right to adjust the provisional funding allocations between the phases and apply a ‘portfolio’ approach. 

2.2 Proposed projects 

Projects will involve one or more of the three types of commercial satellite data and services: 

• satellite imagery (earth observation) 
• satellite connectivity & communications 
• position, navigation & timing (PNT) 

Projects will focus on prioritising: 

• new revenue growth opportunities 
• improved customer experiences 
• operational efficiencies 
• environmental, social and governance (ESG) benefits 

Projects may combine terrestrial data and services (e.g. AI, quantum, machine learning, drones, geospatial data) with satellite data and services.

2.3 Proposed eligible organisations 

Applications welcomed from organisations who have not extensively used satellite data and services.

To lead a project, you: 

• can be an organisation of any size 
• can work alone or with others from business, research organisations, research and technology organisations or the third sector as subcontractors 
• must have a valid UK bank account capable of accepting BACS payments 
• must be able to provide reporting against North Star Metric 
• must provide evidence and data as part of the monthly reporting cycle in support of M&E activities. These data points may include insights into revenue generation, job creation and cost savings 
• must be available for interview and survey by M&E delivery partners as required throughout the project and following its conclusion  

2.4 Proposed projects in scope 

Projects must: 

• be ready to commence by 31 January 2024  
• deliver at least one key milestone by March 2024  
• be completed within 6 months 

Proposals must: 

• identify the primary target sector (transport and logistics or financial services) 
• demonstrate how your innovative application integrates with functional prototypes/solutions for end customers 
• demonstrate a credible and practical route to market
• detail the intended customer groups, integrators and suppliers who will be involved in the study  

2.5 Proposed projects out of scope 

We will not fund projects that: 

• are not original or in scope 
• duplicate someone else’s work 
• do not demonstrate significant support and engagement from potential customers in either the transport and logistics or financial services sectors 
• do not evidence the potential for their proposed innovation to generate positive economic, environmental or societal impact 
• do not address how any potentially negative outcomes would be managed 
• are being funded elsewhere in the UK Space Agency or UK government 
• would directly duplicate other UK government or EU funded initiative you have already been funded to deliver 
• are covered by existing commercial agreements to deliver the proposed solutions 
• involve solutions considered below technology readiness level 4 
• cannot provide reporting against the UK Space Agency’s North Star Metric  

2.6 SBRI indicative timeline 

Open date – 17 November 2023 

Online MS Teams Webinar briefing event – 30 November 2023 

Close date – 15 December 2023 

Applicants notified and feedback provided – 22 December 2023 

Contracts awarded – January 2024  

2.7 Project reporting 

• must provide evidence and data as part of the monthly reporting cycle in support of M&E activities. These data points may include insights into revenue generation, job creation and cost savings 
• must be available for interview and survey by M&E delivery partners as required throughout the project and following its conclusion 
• the UK Space Agency’s North Star Metric: in addition to ongoing reporting, successful applicants will be expected to provide the UK Space Agency with updates on North Star Metric (the UK Space Agency’s metric for private sector investments catalysed by its funding) during the course of project delivery, and information on the impact of funding support after project completion.  

2.8 What happens next? 

We will review the proposed SBRI documentation following any feedback received after this webinar. Email feedback to UnlockingSpaceforBusiness@ukspaceagency.gov.uk by 2pm, Thursday 16 November 2023.  

• SBRI will open on Friday 17 November 2023 with all documents available on Contracts Finder
• MS Teams webinar briefing event will be held online on 30 November 2023 
• applications should be submitted to Commercial@ukspaceagency.gov.uk by 11am, Friday 15 December 2023
• a selected panel of assessors will review and score your application 
• you will be notified of the outcome and feedback will be provided by 22 December 2023 
• contracts for this competition will then be issued to all successful applicants  -pProjects to start from January 2024  

2.9 Q&A 

Questions not answered during webinar

Data sharing and communications need protection against attack and espionage. Is this something my team can put forward as part of the SBRI process? 

This competition aims to fund innovative feasibility studies using satellite data and services, within the Transport & Logistics and/or Financial Services sectors in the UK. You must show how your solution involves an innovative application of satellite data and services, which may be combined with terrestrial data sources, to drive business benefits within the Transport & Logistics and/or Financial Services sectors in the UK.  

Is follow on funding planned? 

The UK Space Agency reserves the right to launch a phase 2 of this competition, subject to the outcomes from this phase 1.  

Please refer to the webinar recording for all questions answered during the webinar.