The UK Space Agency has launched a GBP50 million (US$61 million) Space Clusters and Infrastructure Fund (SCIF) to support the development of cutting-edge research and development facilities.

SCIF will provide funding to UK organizations to develop the research and development infrastructure needed to prepare space products for flight and sell them in commercial markets. The fund will help to generate investment, create jobs and enable UK space companies’ cutting-edge technology to be made mission-ready for new commercial satellite markets. Funding is targeted at industry and academia, which can undertake projects to purchase, build, or upgrade research centers and equipment. The fund will support approximately 5-10 projects worth up to GBP10 million (US$12 million) each. SCIF will allocate the majority of its budget outside the Greater South East, but proposals are welcome from anywhere in the UK.

SCIF will help to realize the goals of the National Space Strategy, namely the creation of innovative space economies in the world, the development of new skills and the creation of jobs.