Grants & programs
Non-dilutive money for space
- AcceleratorCanada
CDL Space stream
Creative Destruction Lab
Nine-month program pairing early space startups with founders and investors.
- Size
- Mentorship and investor access; no fee, no equity
- When
- Annual cohort
- Who can apply
- Seed-stage space startups from anywhere.
- GrantCanada
CSA Class Grant and Contribution Program
Canadian Space Agency
Grants for research, training and awareness in space science and technology.
- Size
- Varies by announcement
- When
- Periodic announcements of opportunity
- Who can apply
- Canadian organisations; many calls target universities.
- GrantCanada
Mitacs Accelerate
Mitacs
Co-funded research internships that place graduate students and postdocs at space companies.
- Size
- From $15K per four-month internship unit, cost-shared
- When
- Rolling
- Who can apply
- Canadian organisations partnering with a university.
- Funding and adviceCanada
NRC Industrial Research Assistance Program (IRAP)
National Research Council Canada
Funding and advice for Canadian SMEs commercialising technology, including space hardware and software.
- Size
- Advisory services and non-repayable R&D funding
- When
- Rolling, through an industrial technology advisor
- Who can apply
- Incorporated Canadian SMEs with 500 or fewer employees.
- GrantCanada
NSERC Alliance Grants
NSERC
Funds university researchers working with company partners on shared research problems.
- Size
- $20K to $1M per year, with partner contribution
- When
- Rolling for most streams
- Who can apply
- Canadian university researchers with an industry partner.
- R&D contractCanada
Space Technology Development Program (STDP)
Canadian Space Agency
Contracts and contributions to develop space technologies with commercial potential.
- Size
- Varies by call, typically up to ~$1M
- When
- Periodic announcements of opportunity
- Who can apply
- Canadian companies, universities and non-profits.
- R&D contractUnited States
DIU Commercial Solutions Openings
Defense Innovation Unit
Fast prototype contracts for commercial technology, including space domain awareness and launch.
- Size
- Prototype contracts, often $1M+
- When
- Rolling, by problem statement
- Who can apply
- Commercial companies of any size.
- GrantUnited States
NASA Flight Opportunities
NASA
Flight testing for technology payloads on commercial suborbital rockets, balloons and aircraft.
- Size
- Paid flights on suborbital vehicles and balloons
- When
- Periodic TechRise and TechLeap calls
- Who can apply
- Industry, universities and student teams, depending on the call.
- R&D contractUnited States
NASA SBIR / STTR
NASA
Non-dilutive R&D contracts for small businesses solving NASA mission needs. STTR pairs the company with a research institution.
- Size
- Phase I up to ~$150K; Phase II up to ~$850K
- When
- Annual solicitation, plus Ignite and other topic calls
- Who can apply
- US-owned small businesses (500 employees or fewer).
- GrantUnited States
NSF SBIR / STTR (America’s Seed Fund)
National Science Foundation
Equity-free grants for deep-tech startups. Space and aerospace are eligible topics.
- Size
- Phase I up to ~$305K; Phase II up to ~$1.25M
- When
- Project pitch accepted year-round
- Who can apply
- US small businesses; start with a short project pitch.
- R&D contractUnited States
SpaceWERX SBIR / STTR
US Space Force (AFWERX)
The Space Force innovation arm. Open and specific topics for dual-use space technology.
- Size
- Phase I to Phase II, plus STRATFI / TACFI matching
- When
- Rolling topics through DoD SBIR releases
- Who can apply
- US small businesses; some topics require clearance.
- AcceleratorUnited States
Starburst Accelerator
Starburst Aerospace
Aerospace and defense accelerator with links to primes and government buyers.
- Size
- Investment plus program support
- When
- Cohort-based
- Who can apply
- Early-stage aerospace, space and defense startups.
Amounts are typical ranges and change between cycles. Confirm the details on the program site. Deadline alerts are coming to Space Buddies Pro.