Open Call: International Bilateral Fund – 3 (United Kingdom)

The International Bilateral Fund (IBF) – Call 3, launched by the UK Space Agency, provides £1 million to £1.5 million per project for UK-based organisations developing collaborative space projects with international partners. The fund supports innovation, economic growth, international market access, supply-chain resilience, future space capabilities, and strategic UK space-sector priorities, with projects lasting up to 18 months.

What Is the International Bilateral Fund – Call 3?

The International Bilateral Fund (IBF) is a UK Space Agency funding programme designed to strengthen international collaboration and position the UK as a leading global space partner.

Call 3 focuses on collaborative projects between UK-based organisations and international partners that can generate measurable benefits for the UK space sector.

The programme combines:

• Space technology innovation.
• International research and development.
• Industrial competitiveness.
• Market access and exports.
• Supply-chain resilience.
• Future space missions and services.
• Strategic and national-security capabilities.

What Does the Fund Support?

Projects should demonstrate how international collaboration will contribute to the development of the UK space sector.

Supported projects are expected to deliver measurable outcomes such as:

• Development of innovative space technologies.
• Increased industrial competitiveness.
• Improved international market access.
• Increased export opportunities.
• Stronger and more resilient supply chains.
• Technologies supporting future space missions.
• Development of future space-based services.
• Strengthening of priority UK capabilities.
• Strategic cooperation that contributes to national security.

Priority International Partners

The fund particularly encourages collaboration with organisations in:

• Canada.
• France.
• Germany.
• India.
• Japan.
• United States.

Partnerships involving other countries may also be considered where they demonstrate a strong opportunity to advance UK space-sector priorities.

How Much Funding Is Available?

Each successful project can receive a grant of:

£1 million to £1.5 million.

At least £12 million has been allocated to International Bilateral Fund Call 3.

Projects can run for a maximum of 18 months.

Successful projects must:

• Begin by 1 April 2027.
• Finish by September 2028.

International Partnership Requirement

Every proposal must include at least one formal international partner.

The international collaboration should be substantive and clearly connected to the project’s technical, commercial, or strategic objectives.

International collaboration should not simply be included to satisfy an eligibility requirement. Applicants should explain why the international partner is necessary and what expertise, technology, market access, infrastructure, or other capability the partner contributes.

Matched Contributions and Cost Requirements

Projects must provide matched contributions in accordance with applicable UK subsidy control requirements.

The grant operates on a cost-recovery basis, meaning payments are linked to the successful delivery of agreed project milestones.

There are also specific limits on expenditure:

• No more than 20% of the total grant may be allocated to international partner costs.
• Travel and subsistence costs are capped at 30% of the total grant value.

Applicants should therefore develop a detailed and realistic project budget before submission.

Who Is Eligible?

The lead applicant must be a UK-based organisation.

Eligible applicants can include:

• Industrial organisations.
• Academic institutions.
• Public-sector research organisations.
• Other eligible UK-based organisations operating within the space sector.

Only one application per lead organisation is permitted.

What Must Applicants Demonstrate?

A competitive proposal should clearly demonstrate:

Technical Objectives

Explain the technology or capability being developed and identify the technical problem the project will address.

Commercial Objectives

Show how the project can contribute to:

• Market opportunities.
• Industrial competitiveness.
• Exports.
• Commercialisation.
• International partnerships.

International Value

Explain why international collaboration is essential and how each partner contributes to the project’s success.

Programme Management

Provide a credible implementation plan with:

• Defined milestones.
• Responsibilities.
• Delivery timetable.
• Risk management.
• Financial controls.
• Expected outputs and outcomes.

Strategic Alignment

Demonstrate alignment with relevant UK space priorities and, where applicable, the priorities of the international partner country.

How to Apply

Step 1: Confirm Lead Organisation Eligibility

Ensure that the lead applicant is based in the UK and meets the UK Space Agency’s eligibility requirements.

Step 2: Identify an International Partner

Secure at least one formal international partner.

Partners from Canada, France, Germany, India, Japan, and the USA are particularly encouraged, although other countries may qualify where strategically relevant.

Step 3: Define the Space Innovation

Clearly identify:

• The technology or capability.
• The problem being addressed.
• The proposed solution.
• The project’s innovation.
• The expected technical outcomes.

Step 4: Develop the Collaboration Model

Explain what each organisation will contribute and why the international partnership creates additional value compared with a UK-only project.

Step 5: Prepare the Budget

Build a costed project plan covering eligible expenses and matched contributions.

Ensure that:

• International partner costs remain within the 20% grant limit.
• Travel and subsistence remain within the 30% grant limit.
• Costs can be linked to project milestones.

Step 6: Establish Milestones

Set measurable milestones that demonstrate progress toward technical, commercial, and strategic objectives.

Step 7: Demonstrate UK Benefits

Explain how the project will benefit the UK through areas such as:

• Innovation.
• Economic growth.
• Exports.
• Jobs and skills.
• Supply-chain resilience.
• Industrial competitiveness.
• Future space capability.

Step 8: Submit the Application

Submit one application through the required UK Space Agency process and ensure that all eligibility, financial, reporting, and supporting-document requirements are satisfied.

Project Duration and Delivery

Projects can last up to 18 months.

The required delivery timeframe is:

• Start: No later than 1 April 2027.
• End: By September 2028.

Payments will be connected to successful delivery against agreed milestones, so applicants should ensure that their delivery schedule is realistic and measurable.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Applicants should avoid:

• Submitting more than one application as the lead organisation.
• Including an international partner without a meaningful collaborative role.
• Failing to demonstrate measurable UK economic or strategic benefits.
• Exceeding the international partner cost limit.
• Exceeding the travel and subsistence limit.
• Providing vague technical objectives.
• Using milestones that cannot be objectively measured.
• Failing to demonstrate matched contributions.
• Ignoring the priorities of the UK and international partner country.
• Underestimating programme management and reporting requirements.

Why It Matters

The International Bilateral Fund is designed to use international collaboration as a mechanism for strengthening the UK space economy and strategic capabilities.

For UK organisations, the programme can provide substantial funding for projects that combine technological innovation with international expertise, commercial opportunities, and future space-sector applications.

The emphasis on measurable outcomes means successful proposals should demonstrate not only that a technology is innovative, but also why international cooperation is valuable and how the project will generate tangible benefits for the UK space sector.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the International Bilateral Fund – Call 3?

It is a UK Space Agency funding opportunity supporting collaborative projects between UK organisations and international partners to advance space-sector innovation, economic growth, market access, resilience, and strategic capabilities.

How much can one project receive?

Projects can request between £1 million and £1.5 million.

What is the total funding available?

At least £12 million is allocated to Call 3.

Is an international partner required?

Yes. Every project must include at least one formal international partner.

Which countries are prioritised?

Partnerships with organisations in Canada, France, Germany, India, Japan, and the USA are particularly encouraged. Other countries may also be considered where strong strategic opportunities exist.

How long can projects last?

Projects can run for up to 18 months and must begin by 1 April 2027 and conclude by September 2028.

Can international partners receive grant funding?

Yes, but no more than 20% of the total grant can be allocated to international partner costs.

Conclusion

The UK Space Agency International Bilateral Fund – Call 3 offers substantial funding for UK-led space projects involving meaningful international collaboration. With grants of £1 million to £1.5 million, the programme is particularly suited to innovative projects that can strengthen UK industrial competitiveness, develop future space technologies, improve supply-chain resilience, expand international markets, and deliver measurable strategic and economic benefits.