The UK Space Agency is to invest in research and development that explores challenges and ideas around receivers for a future UK global navigation satellite system.

Global navigation satellite systems are being used more and more to support basic functions in fields such as transport, agriculture and science. They are also an important element in national security.

The UK Space Agency is seeking organisations interested in investigating and developing concepts for satellite system receivers.

The best ideas could be awarded contracts in a later stage of the competition under the Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI).

Organisations can develop original ideas

Projects could develop original ideas or adapt successful technologies from other cutting-edge science and technology fields.

The competition aims to look at the feasibility of the ideas, and projects could look at them from several perspectives including:

• identifying and understanding the impact and potential of state-of-the-art technologies and capabilities
• technical readiness and scope for innovation
• improved security features, including innovations in authentication and trust
• ability for the receivers to be used by a wide range of sectors
• innovative concepts of implementation and operation

Competition information

• the competition opens on 21 October 2019, and the deadline is at midday on 13 November 2019
• organisations of any size may express an interest
• contract sizes and duration will be briefed at an industry day on 28 November

A Downing Street spokesperson said:

Today the Prime Minister welcomed NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg to Downing Street.

The Prime Minister began by emphasising the UK’s ongoing commitment to NATO, and thanked the Secretary General for the role he has played in supporting and strengthening the Alliance.

Both leaders looked forward to the UK-hosted NATO Leaders’ Meeting in December and the opportunity it will provide to discuss issues such as tackling the new and evolving challenges NATO faces; working together to better share the burden of collective defence and give new impetus to international arms control

The Secretary General praised the UK for meeting and exceeding the NATO spending target. The Prime Minister and Secretary General welcomed the progress that has been made on spending by Allies in recent years, with $100 billion more contributed to the NATO budget since 2016, but agreed that all NATO members should have a plan to spend 2% of their GDP on defence.

The Prime Minister and Secretary General both expressed their deep concern at the situation in northern Syria. They agreed that all NATO Allies, including Turkey, should focus their efforts on defeating Daesh and not lose the gains that have been made in recent years.

Both leaders stressed the value of Turkey as a NATO Ally and recognised the role they have played in supporting refugees from the Syrian conflict. But they were clear that the current Turkish operation needed to end.