LONDON, Dec. 3 -- The government of the United Kingdom issued the following news:
This investment will accelerate breakthrough technologies, boost commercialisation, and reinforce the UK's global leadership in space innovation.
The selected projects span five strategic themescritical to the UK's space ambitions: space domain awareness, in-orbit servicing and manufacturing, Earth observation, satellite communications, and position,navigationand timing.
Together, these projects will deliver transformative technologies to enhance climate monitoring, improve connectivity, enable sustainable satellite operations, and strengthen national security. From quantum communications and robotic servicing tools to AI-powered pollution tracking and refuellable propulsion systems, these innovations will help build a resilient, competitive UK space sector.
Space Minister Liz Lloyd said:
Space technology benefitspeople'slivesevery day - from checking the weather tonavigating your car journey home from work.This funding backs the brilliant UK innovators developing the next generation of space technology.
By supporting our space sector, we're strengthening the UK's position as a world leader in space innovation and building technologies that will benefit people across the country for years to come.
Commercialand public benefits
NSIP's newly funded projects willalsodeliver tangible public value.Together, these projects areanticipatedto create up to 140 skilled jobs across the UK, strengthening the talent pipeline in engineering, datascienceand advanced manufacturing.
Innovations in Earth observation and satellite data will enhance services such as weather forecasting, agricultural monitoring, and disaster response.HR Wallingford's AI tool will usesatellite data to assess how farming practices affect waterqualityinourrivers and bathing waters, supporting environmental protection and more sustainable land use.
MagdriveLtdis developing acompact,versatileand efficient metal-basedplasmapropulsion system,targeting mass production in theUKto supportthe next generation ofsatellite constellations.
Several projects will alsocontribute to national security and resilience. The University of Birmingham'sAI-powered satelliteradar analysis system will help understandand respond toobjects in space, improving space domain awarenessandshaping the future of autonomoussatelliteoperations, makingspace missions safer and smarterwith bespokeAI-approachesdeveloped by Alan Turing Institute.
BAE Systems Digital Intelligence is developing asatellite-based service to detect and track radio signals from Earth, with applications in both civil and defence contexts.The programme is advancing the UK's sustainability goals.Protolaunch'swater-based propulsion system and Orbit Fab'sfirst step to developing arefuellable electricpropulsion system whichwill promote greener satellite operations, while Lodestar Spacewilldevelop autonomous, modular robotic tools to service spacecraft in orbit,reducingspace debris and extending satellite lifespans.
Professor Mark Sims and Professor Anna Hogg, Space Academic Network (SPAN) Co-Chairs said:
We are pleased to see how the UK Space Agency NSIP programme enables great innovation across industry and academia, often jointly supporting the development of real future technologies for the UK space sector.
The strengthening of collaboration between industry and academia over the last decade clearlydemonstratesthe power of working together.The wide variety of technologies now being developed through NSIP is exciting to see, each onerepresentingan opportunity to advance the sector and drive future growth.
Building aworld-leadingspaceeconomy
This new investment from the UK Space Agency builds on the UK's £18 billion space sector, which continues to grow rapidly and is a leading destination for space investment globally.
UKspace Executive Director, Colin Baldwin, said:
We offer our congratulations to all the successful recipients of these awards. This investment expands the impact of the NSIP andprovides the opportunity for space companies and academic institutionsto develop innovative new sovereign capability that strengthens the UK in severalimportant areas.
We also welcome the government's announcement that from 2026 it will be spending more on civil space than ever before. We look forward to working with the emerging "One Government" approach to space to deliver security and growth for our nation.
The UK last week agreed a £1.7billion investment in European Space Agency (ESA) programmes at the ESA Council of Ministers in Bremen, boosting the UK's total commitment to £2.8 billion over the next decade.This funding will sustain thousands of high-skilled jobs, drive innovation, and deliver benefits for people and businesses-from improved connectivity to more resilient infrastructure.
Every £1 invested in ESA returns £7.49 to the UK economy, with contracts flowing back to UK industry and universities.Today's announcement complements recent UK Space Agency funding that reinforce the UK's strategic direction in space. These include £6.8 million inInternational Bilateral Fund awards to support global partnerships,and£6.9million in government funding for satellite communications projects,leveragingthe space sector's talents and strengthening the UK's reputation as a world leader in space technology.
Together, these efforts reflect a coordinated approach to growing the UK's space economy, advancing innovation, and delivering lasting value to citizens and stakeholdersacross the country.
Projects
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MagdriveLtd receives £2milliontoreadya powerful propulsion system for small satellitesfor mass production.
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B2SpaceLtdwith partnersSuperSharpSpace Systems and University of South Walesreceives£2millionto create a UK-led Earth observation system using high-altitude platforms with advanced sensors, satcom connectivity and onboard AI.
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LightricityLtdwith partners AVS Added Value Solutions UK Ltd and IQE PLCreceives £1.9 millionto createafully flexible roll-outfoldable solar panel for small satellites that can generate several kilowatts of power.
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BAE SystemsDigitalIntelligence receives £1.47 millionto develop a satellite-based service to detect and track radio signals from Earth for defence and civil use.
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Toshiba Europe Ltd, togetherwith Heriot-Watt University and Cambridge,Universityhas secured£1.45 milliontospace-qualify critical quantumoptoelectriccomponents andintegrate themintoaUK-developedsecure quantum communicationsystemsfor small satellites.
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FiltronicBroadband Ltd receives £1.18 millionto build a high-powered amplifier system for satellite communications using advanced UK technology.
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Lodestar Space Ltdwith partnersMagdriveLtd and Cranfield Universityreceives £1millionto developautonomous,modular robotic tools to service spacecraft in orbit.
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ProtolaunchLtdwith partners University of Southampton and Naicker Scientific Ltdreceives £1millionto develop a water-based propulsion system that combines chemical and electric thrustfor sustainableand dynamicsatellite movement.
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University of Bristolwith partners University of Bath, Fraunhofer UK Research Ltd, University ofStrathclydeand University of Yorkreceives £980,000to create a UV-basedsecure communication devicesforsmaller size and longer distanceintersatelliteCubeSatslinks.
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University of Edinburghwith partner UK Astronomy Technology Centre(STFC)receives £850,000to develop a compact, high-resolutionCubeSatinstrument to measure pollution from space,with global coverage.
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The University of Southamptonhas received£800,000and partnered with Cranfield Plasma Solutions to develop a plasma torch system for simulating the extreme thermal conditions of spacecraftatmosphericre-entry. This innovation will fill a key UK capability gap by providing high-fidelity, contamination-free material ablation testing, supporting sustainable space operations.
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University of Birminghamwith partner Alan Turing Institutereceives £610,000todesign anAI-powered satelliteradarsystemto understand the shape and structure of objects in space.
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University of Strathclydewith partner BAE Systems PLCreceives £540,000to develop a new satellite navigation system thatavoidsrelyingon GPSbymaintainingan agreed time through synchronisation.
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University of Leicesterwith partner TWI Ltdreceives £485,000to build a robot-mounted weldingsystemforin-spacerepair and structural joining,validatedthroughvacuum and simulated-environmenttesting.
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Orbit Fab Ltdwith partner TAS UKreceives £340,000to create a refuellable electric propulsion system for satellitesby developing a fluidicflatsat.
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HR Wallingfordreceives £320,000,with supportfrom SouthernWater,Thames Water,andEvenlode Catchment Partnership to build an AI tool that uses satellite data to assess how farming affects water quality.
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STFC RAL Space receives £260,000todevelopanew technologytosupport the calibration of next-generation meteorological satellitesusing UK-made electronics.
Disclaimer: Curated by HT Syndication.
