The government has awarded funding to 21 UK organisations that have “radical ideas” on how to tackle climate change through earth observation.

The £7 million funding, provided by the UK Space Agency’s National Space Innovation Programme (NSIP), will also be distributed across businesses and universities addressing satellite communications challenges.

The Open University will use the money to create the UK’s first Precision Forestry tool, TreeView, which will tackle the climate crisis via detailed measurement of tree-planting initiatives aimed at increasing carbon dioxide removal.

Global Satellite Vu will build a new compact, high-resolution infrared camera for satellites to measure thermal emissions from homes, schools and places of work.

Space start-up Space Forge will manufacture in microgravity to produce a next-generation computer chip for the terrestrial and satellite telecommunications industries and return them from orbit for use on Earth.

Amanda Solloway, science minister, said: “We want the UK to be a world leader in space technology which is why we are supporting our most ambitious innovators who are developing first-of-a-kind technologies to help solve some of our greatest challenges.”

“From slashing carbon emissions to protecting the UK’s critical services from harmful cyber-attacks, today’s funding will unshackle our most entrepreneurial space scientists so that they can transfer their revolutionary ideas into world-class products and services, while helping to boost the UK economy.”

Dr Graham Turnock, chief executive, UK Space Agency, said: “Space technologies have become deeply embedded in, and critical to, almost every aspect of our daily lives. With rapid technological innovation, space offers a broad and growing range of opportunities to support economic activity and protect the environment.

“From the satellites connecting our calls to the ones that tell us when to expect rain when we step outside, space technologies are fundamental to our day-to-day lives.

“Our space sector is constantly advancing and welcoming new ideas, and through this funding we are championing the best of this British innovation.”

The UK space sector has grown by more than 60 per cent in the past decade.

The industry currently supports £300 billion of UK economic activity through the use of satellite services.

Share Story: