A Galileo IOV satellite. Photo: DLR

[Via Satellite 01-16-2015] The United Kingdom Space Agency announced that U.K. Innovate is offering as much as $1.5 million in support of feasibility studies for new receiver technologies for Europe’s Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) Galileo. Businesses can win a share of the funding for projects the agency expects will last three to six months, ranging in total costs from approximately $150,000 to $300,000.

The competition begins on Jan. 19, and will have a briefing day at the Satellite Applications Catapult on Jan. 21. The U.K. Space Agency hopes the program will boost the accuracy, performance, availability and robustness of space-based navigation systems.

Galileo is expected to reach full operational capability in between 2018 and 2020. To date, the U.K. has invested more than $75 million in the GNSS system through participation in the European Space Agency (ESA) and the European Commission.