UK-Florida space partnership set to drive innovation

A £300,000 fund – established between the UK Space Agency’s International Bilateral Fund (IBF) and Space Florida’s International Aerospace Innovation Fund (IAIF) – has been designed to move projects from concept toward demonstration, opening doors to investment and access to the US market.

The fund reflects the UK’s commitment to building international partnerships that help translate innovative research into commercial success. By supporting collaboration between UK and Florida organisations, it will help innovators access new expertise, facilities and customers, whilst strengthening links with one of the world’s leading space ecosystems.

Areas of particular interest reflect where UK-Florida collaboration is most likely to generate breakthrough results, including space transportation, satellite systems, in-space research, advanced exploration technologies and in-orbit servicing and manufacturing. Florida is home to the world’s busiest spaceport and a statewide ecosystem of aerospace talent and infrastructure.

The UK space sector employs more than 55,000 people, generates £18.6 billion for the economy and brings extraordinary depth in space science, research and commercial capability.

Greater market accessibility

Together, the agreement creates new commercial and research opportunities on both sides of the Atlantic.

Rebecca Evernden, Director of the UK Space Agency, said: “The UK’s space sector has enormous ambition and partnerships like this one show exactly why international collaboration is central to our plans. By joining forces with Space Florida, we’re opening new doors for British companies, researchers and innovators to work on the cutting-edge projects that will define the next generation of space capabilities, services and commercial opportunities.”

Space Florida President and CEO Rob Long said: “This agreement is a direct expression of what the Florida Model is built on. The belief that the state of Florida is not just a launch location but a launch point for the world’s aerospace ambitions.

“The UK brings extraordinary depth in space science, research and commercial capability and together we’re creating the conditions for the kind of innovation that happens when the right partners decide to build something together.”

Commercial potential

A formal joint call for projects will open in Autumn 2026, with selections anticipated in 2027. Projects must involve at least one UK-based entity and at least one Florida-based partner and must demonstrate clear commercialisation potential.

This partnership builds on the UK-Florida MoU on trade concluded in November 2023, which prioritises bilateral cooperation in the space sector.

Applications from outside the areas of interest stated above are also welcome. Funding for successful projects will be provided jointly by the UK Space Agency’s International Bilateral Fund (IBF) and Space Florida’s International Aerospace Innovation Fund (IAIF), with each participant funded by the respective side in their own jurisdiction. Awards will be made competitively by an expert panel.