CSA STDP AO 10.2 — Space R&D: Small Businesses Stream (2026)

Insider Tip

The Post-Project Strategy section (50% of total score) is where most proposals lose points — evaluators want a credible TRL advancement roadmap past the project end, with named commercial partners or agency commitments. Budget specific R&D milestones for 3–5 years post-project and attach letters from potential customers or mission integrators. The 50 FTE hard cap disqualifies most primes — this program is genuinely designed for micro-space companies that can't compete in AO 10.1.

Rejection Pitfalls 7

• More than 50 full-time employees (automatic disqualification)
• Academic institution applying as the primary applicant
• Technology does not fall within the space application segment or is explicitly excluded (earth observation data processing, space medical tech, ISRU, space food, life support systems)

Success Profile

A Canadian micro-space company with 50 or fewer employees that has already validated a novel space technology concept at TRL 2–3, has the internal engineering team to advance it to TRL 4–6 within 24–36 months, and has a credible post-project roadmap to TRL 7–9 deployment with a named space mission or commercial partner.

Evaluation Criteria

Two equal categories worth 50% each. Project Strategy (50%): Project Innovation (20pts — novelty, state-of-art review, technical needs) + Project Implementation (30pts — team qualifications, work plan, TRL progression, risk management); minimum 25 pts required. Post-Project Strategy (50%): Market Assessment (10pts — market opportunity, competitive analysis) + Roadmap to Deployment (30pts — post-project TRL plan, stakeholder commitment) + Benefit to Applicant (5pts — job creation, revenue growth) + Benefit to Canadian Space Sector (5pts — spillovers, Canadian spend ratio); minimum 25 pts required. Overall minimum 60% to be considered for funding.

Application Steps

Required Documents 9

Eligible Expenses 8

• Salaries and benefits for personnel directly involved in the project (benefits capped at 20% of salary)
• Equipment and software acquisition directly linked to project objectives (max 20% of eligible costs)
• Consultant and professional services fees
• Data acquisition and laboratory analysis costs
• Materials and supplies consumed during the project
• Overhead and administrative costs (max 15% of eligible costs)
• Travel and accommodation costs for project-related activities
• Foreign goods taxes net of any applicable rebates

Ineligible Expenses 9

• Earth observation data processing solutions
• Space medical technologies
• Prospecting and In Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) technologies
• Space food production technologies
• Space life support systems
• Technologies already funded by CSA elsewhere
• General company overhead not directly tied to project activities
• Market development or commercialization costs beyond the project scope
• Costs incurred before the contribution agreement is signed

Intake Periods

Annual — one round per year. Typically opens for registration in January and closes for submissions in March. Watch asc-csa.gc.ca/eng/funding-programs/funding-opportunities/ for AO announcements.

Deadline Notes

The 2026 round (AO 10.2) registration closed February 6, 2026 and applications closed March 13, 2026 at 1:00 PM ET. The CSA runs STDP rounds annually — watch asc-csa.gc.ca for the next AO announcement expected Q1 2027. Funding decisions are issued approximately 16 weeks after the closing date.

Open Application Portal →

Ineligible Organizations

• Academic and post-secondary institutions (universities, colleges, CEGEPs)
• Organizations with more than 50 full-time employees
• Foreign corporations without Canadian establishment
• Organizations already receiving CSA funding for the same technology under another AO or program
• Government departments and Crown corporations

Compatible Programs

Clawback Risk

Medium Risk

Medium — CSA may require repayment if project deliverables are not met, eligible expenses are not substantiated, or the organization undergoes a change (ownership, employee count exceeding 50, dissolution) that violates the contribution agreement. The 25% cost-share must be demonstrably spent from the applicant's own resources.