Funding opportunity

Expression of interest: Small-satellite missions sandpit

• Opportunity status: Open
• Funders: UK Research and Innovation
• Funding type: Grant
• Total fund: £1,870,000
• Publication date: 22 October 2026
• Opening date: 22 October 2026 9:00am UK time
• Closing date: 25 November 2026 4:00pm UK time

Apply to attend a sandpit to develop small satellite Earth observation mission concepts using innovative sensors and data streams enabled by other transversal technologies. Projects should deliver sovereign capability for national security and defence, societal benefit, and economic growth.

Around 30 participants will be invited to co-create ambitious projects. Selected teams will be invited forward to apply for 11-month pump-priming projects starting on 1 May 2027.

Successful projects will share up to £1.87 million at 100% full economic cost (FEC). UKRI will fund 80% of the FEC.

You must be based at a UK research organisation eligible for UKRI funding.

You must complete an expression of interest to apply by 25 November 2026 4:00pm UK time. The sandpit sessions will be held between 26 January and 10 February 2027. Attendance at all online and in-person sessions is mandatory.

Who can apply

This funding opportunity is open to organisations with standard eligibility. Check if your organisation is eligible.

Who is eligible to apply

This opportunity is open to applicants who meet the individual eligibility criteria.

We welcome applicants from all career stages and from across UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)’s research and innovation communities.

Participants to the sandpit and any subsequent funding will be subject to relevant security or due diligence checks.

Who is not eligible to apply

The following organisations are not eligible to submit an expression of interest:

• UK organisations that do not have standard eligibility for UKRI funding, including UK registered businesses, government departments and third sector organisations
• international organisations

Collaborators from UK and international organisations that are not eligible to apply can contribute as project partners through cash or in-kind support. Participants to the sandpit will be encouraged to engage with potential collaborators who are not in attendance.

Resubmissions

We will not accept uninvited resubmissions of projects that have been submitted to UKRI. Find out more about UKRI’s resubmission policy.

Equality, diversity and inclusion

We are committed to achieving equality of opportunity for all funding applicants. We encourage applications from a diverse range of researchers.

We support people to work in a way that suits their personal circumstances. This includes:

• career breaks
• support for people with caring responsibilities
• flexible working
• alternative working patterns

UKRI can offer disability and accessibility support for UKRI applicants and grant holders during the application and assessment process.

What we're looking for

Demand management

Demand management is not currently being applied to this funding opportunity.  However, should the level of interest exceed what can be managed within the assessment process, UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) may introduce limits on the number of applications that can be submitted. Further details will be clearly communicated where this is the case. UKRI encourages organisations to support applicants in preparing well-planned, high-quality applications that are competitive for funding relative to the funding opportunity.

Aim

The aim of the sandpit is to bring together researchers and innovators from different disciplines to build new collaborations and co-develop ambitious, challenge-led, small satellite Earth observation mission concepts. These concepts will combine innovative sensors and data streams as well as further cross-sector technologies, to meet user needs and benefit UK sovereign capability, national security, society, and economic growth. Participants will work with stakeholders from the space, defence and environmental sectors to address a range of real-world challenges.

Alignment with UK government strategy and the UKRI Delivery Plan

This sandpit is part of the UKRI Space Programme’s activities to meet the goals of the UKRI Delivery Plan 2026 to 2027. It will contribute to UKRI’s objective of aligning its portfolio with government’s priorities, including the five missions and Industrial Strategy (objective two of the UKRI Objectives and Key Results 2026 to 2027). The programme aims to demonstrably strengthen the research and innovation foundations of the UK space sector by enabling new funding opportunities and supporting capability growth. The programme’s current priorities have been selected in alignment with the UK Space Strategy, government priorities in National Security and Defence (see The Strategic Defence Review 2025 and The Defence Investment Plan 2026), and UKRI strengths and ambition.

During this spending review period until 2030, best value can be achieved by focusing where UKRI’s strengths can best support government and UKRI priorities in two priority areas:

• Earth observation and data
• platforms and small satellites

Sandpit

The sandpit will be an intensive, inclusive, interactive and creative environment, supporting a diverse group of participants from a range of disciplines and backgrounds in UKRI’s remit to work together.

We recognise the value in enabling collaboration across disciplines which may not usually come together to address the challenges being tackled. The unique opportunity provided by this sandpit will be that attendees will have access to government and industry stakeholders to drive the research towards real-world scenarios.

The sandpit will be overseen by a director, who will be supported by a team of mentors. These roles may be drawn from across the research and innovation community, including academia, industry, government and user communities. The director, mentors and stakeholders will attend the sandpit but will not be eligible to receive research funding. Instead, their role will be to assist participants in defining and exploring challenges in this area. The director and mentors will act as independent reviewers, making a funding recommendation on the emergent projects.

The sandpit process can be broken down into several stages, these are:

• defining the scope of any research to address the user needs, from sovereign capability and national security to societal or economic benefits
• cultivating a common language and terminologies amongst people from a diverse range of backgrounds and disciplines
• sharing understandings of the challenges, the expertise brought by the participants to the sandpit, as well as perspectives from relevant stakeholders
• immersing participants in collaborative thinking processes and ideas sharing to construct innovative approaches
• capturing the outputs in the form of highly innovative research projects
• funding decisions on those projects at the sandpit using ‘real-time’ peer review

Scope

Earth observation mission concepts developed through the sandpit must address a clearly defined real-world application or challenge. They should enable collaboration between space and space-adjacent technological communities including artificial intelligence, edge computing, quantum technologies, advanced manufacturing, advanced connectivity technologies, and others. A high degree of innovation is desirable, rather than incremental development of existing capabilities.

Projects should investigate overall mission feasibility, explore a broad range of technical concepts and translate high-level operational goals into preliminary system requirements. They should consider everything in the system from the sensor technology to the information products provided to the end user, including:

• definition of user requirements, mission objectives and a preliminary business case
• feasibility assessment and identification of gaps in capability and readiness
• payload requirements and instrument configurations
• platform options and orbital parameters
• data-stream development and data project usability

The projects should enable a step towards delivering innovative solutions that include:

• faster, more efficient, effective and affordable production of data for commercial and government applications from future constellations of small satellites
• expanded usability of data products
• advances in onboard filtering, real-time alerts and constellation collaboration
• secure, assured, UK-owned and operated, nationally separable capability

At the end of the sandpit the proposed projects will be evaluated, and selected teams may be invited to submit a full application for funding to undertake a ‘phase 0’ study. Attendance at the sandpit does not guarantee progression to the application stage or funding.

Duration

The duration of any successful award is a maximum of 11 months. Projects must start by 1 May 2027.

Funding available

It is expected that around five or six projects will be funded, sharing up to £1.87 million of total funding at 100% FEC. UKRI will fund 80% of the FEC.

Accommodation will be provided during the residential component of the sandpit. However, participants must make their own travel arrangements. Travel and subsistence costs will be reimbursed.

Since this sandpit is partially residential, and where employers cannot help, in line with UKRI policy, we will cover the costs of any additional childcare or caring responsibilities, which is deemed necessary during this period.

This funding opportunity is the first activity for the UKRI Space Programme, with a further £20 million between 2028 and 2030 for future investments. Subject to the outcomes of the funded pump-priming projects, follow-on funding may be available to progress the most promising concepts towards missions.

During the pump-priming phase, project teams should identify capability gaps, refine development plans and consider any additional expertise needed to deliver potential future phases. Progress will be assessed through a stage-gate review process before any decisions on further investment are made.

Trusted Research and Innovation (TR&I)

UKRI has a long-standing and continuing commitment to supporting and enabling safe and effective collaboration in research and innovation. UKRI is equally committed to ensuring that this takes place with integrity and within strong ethical frameworks.

Our Principles and expectations set out the principles that UKRI applies to TR&I and our general expectations of the research organisations (including businesses, research institutes, and research technical organisations) that we support. Organisations supported by UKRI should be able to provide evidence that their internal controls and processes meet these expectations.

See further guidance and information about TR&I, including where applicants can find additional support.

How to apply

Applying to participate in the sandpit

Apply to this sandpit by completing an expression of interest (EOI), through an EOI survey.

Please note that each question in this survey is accompanied by a specific word limit indicated at the end of each question.

The EOI survey will require applicants to confirm their commitment to attend the entire sandpit if shortlisted. Please be advised, you must be able to attend two in-person days likely between 2 and 4 February 2027 and virtual sandpit days held the week prior and after.

Information about the venue and the exact format of the sandpit will be provided to the successful participants. Accommodation will be provided. However, participants must make their own travel arrangements. We welcome applications and enquiries from individuals with additional needs for whom specific provisions may need to be made, for example, those with caring responsibilities and people with disabilities.

We are committed to creating a more inclusive research base in line with our equality, diversity and inclusion action plan and encourage applications from under-represented groups.

Individuals who have applied to or attended a sandpit previously are welcome to apply to this sandpit.

General use of hyperlinks

Applications should be self-contained. You should only use hyperlinks to link directly to reference information. You must not include links to web resources to extend your application. Assessors are not required to access links to conduct assessment or recommend a decision.

Generative artificial intelligence (AI)

Use of generative AI tools to prepare applications is permitted, however, caution should be applied.

For more information see our policy on the use of generative AI in application and assessment.

Deadline

The deadline for EOIs is 25 November 2026 at 4:00pm UK time. You will not be able to apply after this time. Late submissions will not be considered.

Selected participants

UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) will confirm selected participants for the sandpit, subject to security checks, by the middle of December 2026.

Selected applicants will be required to inform their university research office, in advance of the event, that they will attend the sandpit. If your project is selected to submit a full application your institution will be required to fund 20% of the full economic project costs as standard. Participants will not be required to contribute to the cost of attending the sandpit.

Processing personal data

UKRI will need to collect some personal information to manage your application and the registration of your funding applications.

We will handle personal data in line with UK data protection legislation and manage it securely. For more information, including how to exercise your rights, read our privacy notice.

UKRI will need to share the application and any personal information that it contains with the sandpit facilitators and director/mentors, so that they can participate in the sandpit process.

Questions for EOI

Question one

This sandpit will involve exploring new ideas where the outcomes are not known in advance. Describe how you approach open-ended or uncertain research situations. You may wish to give an example of how you explored or adapted to a new direction in your work.

Question two

People from different disciplines often use different methods, language, or ways of approaching research questions. Describe how you have worked with people from other fields, or how you would approach this.

Question three

Describe how you have shared your research or ideas with people outside your immediate field. This could include other academic disciplines, industry, policy, or the wider public. What approaches or formats worked well for you?

Question four

Please describe your current research interests in language suitable for a non-expert. Then explain how your skills, approaches, or ideas could contribute to the aims of the sandpit.

Question five

Please tell us what you hope to gain from and contribute to the sandpit.

Additional questions

Participants will be selected primarily based on their answers to the above questions. In addition, the selection panel will reflect on the career stages and regions of applicants to ensure a diverse group of participants, therefore participants will be asked questions about these in the survey.

How we will assess your application

Assessment process for applications to attend the sandpit

Applications to attend the sandpit will be assessed by a selection panel comprised of the sandpit director, mentors and UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) staff. Participant selection will be based solely on the information provided in the expression of interest survey.

The assessment criteria are as follows:

• the ability to develop innovative approaches to research
• the ability to work collaboratively and within interdisciplinary environment
• the ability to communicate and engage with diverse non-academic stakeholders
• relevant research expertise and experience
• the ability to explain research to non-experts

Participants will be selected primarily based on these assessment criteria. However, the panel will also look to ensure sandpit participants have expertise in a mix of disciplines and backgrounds. The selection panel will also reflect on the career stages and regions of applicants to ensure a diverse group of participants.

Because of the considerable number of applications expected, we will not be able to give individual feedback to unsuccessful applicants.

In the event of this funding opportunity being oversubscribed as to be unmanageable, UKRI reserves the right to modify the assessment process.

Please note that attendance at the sandpit does not guarantee UKRI funding.

Principles of assessment

We support the San Francisco declaration on research assessment and recognise the relationship between research assessment and research integrity.

Find out about the UKRI principles of assessment and decision making.

Using generative artificial intelligence (AI) in expert review

Generative AI may only be used for the purpose of language refinement during application assessment. When using generative AI to refine the language of a review, expert reviewers and panellists must ensure that:

• no part of the application being assessed is entered into a generative AI tool
• no personal information from the application is disclosed
• generative AI is not tasked with understanding, summarising or evaluating the application’s content

Expert reviewers and panellists must also:

• comply with relevant intellectual property and data protection legislation
• not take into account or speculate within their assessment whether generative AI has been used to develop the application

For more detail see our policy on the use of generative AI.

Selection of projects and full application assessment

At the end of the sandpit, the director and mentors will review the emerging projects using the published assessment areas. Project leads and co-leads involved in the projects recommended for funding will be invited to submit a full application detailing their intended Phase 0 Study activities as identified at the sandpit.

Funding will be conditional on receipt of a full application and review by the sandpit assessment panel.

The same assessment areas used to select projects at the end of the sandpit will be used to assess the full applications. All assessment areas will be equally weighted.

Assessment areas

Projects should be novel and highly interdisciplinary, clearly reflecting the distinctive opportunity for creating such projects that the sandpit provides. There should be clear relevance to, and the potential to make, a distinctive and novel contribution to addressing the research challenges in this area and the needs of the stakeholders.

The assessment areas we will use, and reserve the right to modify, are:

• fit to opportunity
• vision of the project
• approach to the project
• capability of the applicant or applicants and the project team to deliver the project
• resources requested to do the project
• ethical and responsible research and innovation considerations of the project

The deadline for submission of full applications is expected to be 18 March 2027 at 4.00pm UK time.

Final funding decisions will be made in the middle of April 2027, following review of the full applications by the sandpit mentors and director to ensure what is submitted is in keeping with what was presented at the sandpit.

Any collaborative project funded through this programme must have a signed collaboration agreement between the partners before the start of any grant.

We attach significant importance to the dissemination of research findings and the publishing of information about the research they support in the public domain. However, all dissemination and publication must be carried out in the manner agreed in the project’s collaboration agreement.

Further guidance on collaboration agreements will be provided when the full opportunity opens.

Contact details

Get help with your application

If you have a question and the answers aren’t provided on this page

The helpdesk is committed to helping users of the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Funding Service as effectively and as quickly as possible. In order to manage cases at peak volume times, the helpdesk will triage and prioritise those queries with an imminent opportunity deadline or a technical issue. Enquiries raised where information is available on the Funding finder opportunity page and should be understood early in the application process (for example, regarding eligibility, content or remit of a funding opportunity) will not constitute a priority case and will be addressed as soon as possible.

Contact details

For help and advice on costings and writing your application please contact your research office in the first instance, allowing sufficient time for your organisation’s submission process.

For questions related to this specific funding opportunity please contact SmallSatSandpit@ukri.org

Any queries regarding the system or the submission of applications through the Funding Service should be directed to the helpdesk.

Email: support@funding-service.ukri.org

Phone: 01793 547490

Our phone lines are open:

• Monday to Thursday 8:30am to 5:00pm
• Friday 8:30am to 4:30pm

To help us process queries more efficiently, we request that users highlight the council and opportunity name in the subject title of their email query, include the application reference number, and refrain from contacting more than one mailbox at a time.

For further information on submitting an application read How applicants use the Funding Service.

Additional info

Research and innovation impact

Impact can be defined as the long-term intended or unintended effect research and innovation has on society, economy and the environment; to individuals, organisations, and the wider global population.

Ethical information

UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) will not fund a project if it believes that there are ethical concerns that have been overlooked or not appropriately accounted for. Sandpit participants who are selected to submit an application will be required to detail ethical considerations, in keeping with UKRI guidance under the UKRI Funding Service.

Supporting documents

Equality Impact Assessment (PDF, 261KB)

Webinar for potential applicants

We will hold a webinar on 3 November 2026 10:30am UK time for prospective applicants. This will provide more information about the funding opportunity and a chance to ask questions.

Register for the webinar

A recording and slides will be made available after the webinar.