Innovation challenge: space data for industry (Denmark) - now closed
This fund is now closed for applications. Are you a Scottish space technology business with product design and software capabilities? We’re looking to fund ambitious, innovative projects that'll accelerate the commercial use of space data and technologies. Get grant funding for 100% of your eligible project costs, up to a maximum of £30,000.
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About the challenge
We're looking to fund ambitious, innovative projects with the potential to accelerate the commercial use of space data and technologies.
Although satellite data and services already underpin more than 17% of the UK's GDP, the downstream space sector is still an emerging market involving commercial opportunities with little precedent. Developing value propositions can be challenging, as private and public sector customers can be uncertain of the value of space data in the context of their operations and services.
This new international challenge will help Scottish space technology businesses show how innovative satellite data-driven services can deliver solutions primarily for financial services customers in Denmark (although other sectors may be considered).
The lead applicant should be a Scottish-based solution provider (technology company) working in partnership with a customer or challenge owner from Denmark.
You'll need to assess the technical and commercial feasibility of your proposed solution over a period of three months – and your project should be complete by the end of January 2026.
You'll also be expected to join a show and tell event at the end of the project.
This project is open to any eligible organisation with a registered base in Scotland. You can get grant support for 100% of your eligible project costs, up to a maximum of £30,000.
Challenge objectives
This call aims to boost private sector investment in growth by supporting small or medium sized enterprises (SMEs) to adopt new-to-firm innovation and expand their international presence.
We're also looking to bridge the gap between the market's understanding of the potential of satellite data and services in organisations, and the ability of space sector companies to collaborate more closely with international industry partners to secure new sales opportunities.
Important information
To be eligible, you must:
- Be a technology company (solution provider) based in Scotland
- Apply with a challenge partner or customer in Denmark that's already connected and committed to undertaking the proposed feasibility or proof of concept project
- Intend to commercialise your solution to support your company’s growth (for example, by increasing turnover or jobs)
You should also be aware that:
- Your project must involve the use of space data-related products or services or focus on challenges that could potentially be addressed through such products or services
- Our main focus is the financial services sector in Denmark, but we may consider applications for other sectors
- The funding will only cover feasibility or proof of concept costs (see eligible costs)
Your application doesn't have to only use space data. For example, we're also interested in the fusion of satellite data with IOT sensor data or ground truth data.
We’ve identified financial services and insurance as sectors that offer opportunities of particular interest in Denmark, but we’ll accept applications from other sectors too.
Project impact
Your project must also show a measurable impact on job creation and international business growth.
How much funding is available?
Grant funding for 100% of your eligible project costs is available, up to a maximum of £30,000. Up to 10 projects will be funded.
Funding will be provided in line with the UK subsidy control rules on de minimis or minimal financial assistance, as applicable when the funding is awarded to you.
You'll be asked to provide details of any other recent funding you've received as minimal financial assistance or as de minimis. Under the UK subsidy control rules, we can't provide a grant if it means that you would exceed your minimal financial assistance allowance of £315,000 (or if applicable, your de minimis threshold) within the current and past two financial years.
What should my solution include?
Your project:
- Must make use of satellite data – Earth observation technologies and the use of satellite communications are of particular interest
- May combine satellite data with other types of datasets
- May not need ground truth data or may use less of it than current approaches (for example, by developing AI models with free, open, or other publicly available datasets)
- May use ground data if this is available to you (or the challenge partner), or will be by the time it's needed for your project
- Should make the satellite data actionable for the customer/challenge partner
Certain projects are out of scope, including projects:
- Where the technology company/lead applicant is based outside Scotland
- Where there is no challenge partner or customer involved in the project
- Where space data/technology is not a key enabler of the proposed solution
- That use technology solutions with no clear route to market or economic impact
Is my project eligible?
As a solution provider/technology company, you must:
- Have a proposed solution
- Have a proven capability to conduct technical and commercial feasibility projects
- Be working with a challenge partner/customer
The lead applicant must be registered and based in Scotland.
To be eligible, all projects must also:
- Be a research and development (R&D) project that clearly addresses the challenge brief
- Aim to provide the technical detail and commercial case for subsequent development and demonstration projects, ultimately leading to a sale
- Show economic benefit to Scotland – for example, through job creation
- Aim to develop and commercialise innovative technology with a Danish partner
- Last no more than three months
- Be completed by 31 January 2026
- Be largely carried out in Scotland
You also mustn't start the project, or commit to any project costs, before you sign the grant funding contract.
Is my business eligible?
This call is open to businesses of any size based in Scotland. To be eligible, the lead applicant must:
- Be registered in Scotland
- Be a registered company (a company that's registered with Companies House)
- Be an individual business (although you can include subcontract costs and consultancy fees in your eligible costs, including those related to academic partners)
- Be committed to fair working practices, which means paying employees at least the real living wage (currently £12.60 in Scotland) and ensuring that the work offers an effective voice, opportunity, security, fulfilment, and respect (you can find out more and access free resources through the Fair Work Employer Support Toolopens in a new window
- Provide details of any other recent funding you've received as minimal financial assistance or as de minimis within the current and past two financial years, so we can determine if we can offer a grant without it exceeding your minimal financial assistance or de minimis threshold (see the MFA section in the application form)
Eligible project costs
You can use the funding to cover:
- Employee salaries
- Subcontractors and consultancy fees (including academics)
- Travel costs
- Fees for trials and testing
- Access to data sets
Additional support for your project
If your project is successful, you'll have access to:
- A dedicated team of specialists to support your companies throughout project development – for example, with advice on intellectual property from Scottish Enterprise
- Additional support to identify and bid for external funding for any subsequent prototype and demonstration projects
How will my application be assessed?
Your application will be assessed by representatives from the funding partners and support organisations.
We'll consider several different factors, including:
- If the main applicant is a Scottish-registered organisation
- How well the proposal meets the challenge call objectives
- The project's economic impact on Scotland
- How innovative the proposal is
- The robustness of the project plan
- The experience and capability of the team
- Your justification for the project budget and its value for money
- The commercial potential of the proposal
- Your need for funding
Timeline
Note the following important dates:
- Call launches – 20 June 2025
- Call webinar – 14 July 2025
- Application period – 20 June to 22 August 2025
- Closing date – 22 August 2025 at midday
- Evaluation period – 25 August to 10 September 2025
- Evaluators meet – 12 September 2025
- Pitch session – 16 September 2025
- Notification of results – 18 September 2025
- Contracting period – 19 September to 17 October 2025
- Inception meeting – 20 October 2025 (to finalise contracts, discuss project parameters, upfront payment, claims, and reporting, and set up monthly review meetings)
- Project start date – 22 October 2025
- Project end date – 21 January 2026
- Cohort sessions – dates and topics to be confirmed
- Submit claims from – 30 January to 27 February 2026
- Show and tell event – 6 March 2026
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