FOI release

FOI2025/00680: BIC - Atmosphere Space Converter

This request was refused in part, so we didn't provide some of the information the requester asked for. This may include information where we can neither confirm nor deny that we hold it.

Case reference FOI2025/00680

Received 24 July 2025

Published 7 October 2025

Request

Request received: 24 July 2025

1. How many space businesses with TR3 got BIC funding in the last 12 months and what was the total £ they got

2. What is the true cost of running BIC ESA in the last 12 months

3. How much funding has the UK Government allocated for BIC ESA

4. Who set the policy at STFC for TRL3 Proof of concept only

Response

Response sent: 12 August 2025

I can confirm that UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) holds some information relevant to your request; please see the information we hold below. I would like to clarify that the UK Space Agency (UKSA) is not part of UKRI.

1. How many space businesses with TR3 got BIC funding in the last 12 months and what was the total £ they got

In the last full calendar year (2024):

  • All space businesses selected onto the European Space Agency Business Incubation Centre (ESA BIC) UK were at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 3 or above.

  • 18 companies were selected onto the ESA BIC UK.

  • The funding available to companies through the ESA BIC UK is a matter of public record and can be found on the ESA BIC1 website.

As this information is in the public domain, we consider that Section 21 of the FOIA - Information already reasonably accessible, would apply and have provided the relevant link above. Section 21 is an absolute exemption which means that there is no requirement to conduct a public interest test

2. What is the true cost of running BIC ESA in the last 12 months

UKRI does not hold this information. The ESA BIC UK is part funded by UK Space Agency via the UK government’s subscription to ESA.

3. How much funding has the UK Government allocated for BIC ESA

UKRI does not hold this information. The ESA BIC UK is part funded by UK Space Agency via the UK government’s subscription to ESA.

4. Who set the policy at STFC for TRL3 Proof of concept only

The Application Scoring Guidelines pertaining to TRL levels (proof of concept) are determined by ESA.

Documents

This is UK Research and Innovation's response to a freedom of information (FOI) or environmental information regulations (EIR) request.

You can browse our other responses or make a new FOI request.