The UK Space Agency has invested £9 million in an early-stage tech programme to enhance Earth observation technologies to better understand and protect the planet.

Delivered by the Centre for Earth Observation Instrumentation (CEOI), the £9 million will support 12 tech projects that enhance the ability to monitor Earth’s atmosphere and measure critical emissions such as carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrogen dioxide.

Among those involved in the 12 projects are several Scottish-based institutions and companies, including the University of Edinburgh, the University of Strathclyde, the UK Astronomy Technology Centre in Edinburgh, and Bright Ascension, the Dundee-based space software company.

The instruments under development could give a clearer picture of where activities and incidents producing high levels of emissions—such as wildfires or inefficient farming techniques—are taking place, enabling decision-makers to coordinate more effective responses.

The Near Infrared Multispectral Camera for Atmospheric Methane (NIMCAM) is one project, led by the University of Edinburgh and supported by the UK Astronomy Technology Centre and the National Physical Laboratory. It aims to build a high spatial resolution near-infrared camera for methane measurements in the atmosphere, and help to discover smaller leaks than ever before.

The grant will enable those involved in NIMCAM to focus on an airborne demonstration, as well as the satellite mission, instrument design, and space-relevant environment testing.

The names of the 12 CEOI projects, the funding received, and those involved are as follows:

1. CITISCAN Payload Development (£1,150,000). Thales-Alenia Space UK with support from University of Leicester.
2. Cold Atom Interferometry Thermosphere Drag Measurement (CAITDM) (£1,000,000). STFC-RAL with support from University of Nottingham and Metamorphic Additive Manufacturing Ltd.
3. SOLSTICE: Solar Occultation Limb Sounding Transformative Instruments for Climate Exploration (£2,300,000). STFC-RAL with support from Bright Ascension and Open Cosmos.
4. Prototyping an unfolding space telescope for a small satellite platform (£900,000). Super-Sharp Space Systems with support from In-Space Missions Ltd.
5. The Near Infrared Multispectral Camera for Atmospheric Methane (NIMCAM): Instrument demonstration and space mission development (£1,700,000). University of Edinburgh with support from STFC-UKATC (UK Astronomy Technology Centre), NPL (National Physical Laboratory).
6. Hyperspectral Chroma-D Instrument (HERCHI) Payload Development (£900,000). Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd, with support from Pixalytics Ltd.
7. Expanding GNSS-R for HydroGNSS Constellation (£250,000). Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd with support from University of Nottingham and National Oceanography Centre, Southampton.
8. Umbrella Radiation Monitor: Phase 2 Demonstration Model Development (£250,000). Umbrella Space Science Ltd with support from BGHTECH Ltd and Leese SPM Ltd.
9. 3.5 THz Receiver Breadboard for Upper Atmosphere Science (£250,000). STFC RAL Space with support from University of Leeds.
10. Evaluation of Novel Design for reduced dark current in VLWIR MCT arrays (£67,000). Leonardo UK.
11. EO-APU: Prototype Development for an AI-Driven EO Processing Unit (£75,000). Surrey AI Imaging Ltd with support from Blue Sky Imaging Ltd.
12. High-accuracy Magnetometer for Space Weather Instrumentation (HMSWI) (£65,000). STFC RAL Space with support from British Geological Survey (BGS), University of Strathclyde and Iota Technology Ltd.

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The £9m CEOI funding pot will also be propped up with more than £2m additional funding from the academic and private sectors.

Nicolas Leveque, director of the CEOI, said: “This additional funding from the UK Space Agency demonstrates its continued support for the development of high-end remote-sensing technologies.

“These technologies will fill many gaps in our observing capabilities and help better understand some of the more complex processes driving the Earth climate and environment.

“This funding round will act as an accelerator, bringing the launch of new instruments forward by several years.

“We also welcome the responsiveness of the research, academic and industrial community, who have put together ambitious work plans to match the level of investment.”