A batch of 23 projects will strengthen international space partnerships, develop national capabilities and boost space innovation, the UK Space Agency has announced.
This is the second round of projects from the successful International Bilateral Fund (IBF), representing a £6.5m boost for UK companies and universities collaborating internationally on space innovation with partners in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, India, Japan, Lithuania, and the USA.
These innovations include autonomous 3D printing, lunar agriculture, orbital threat detection, biotech manufacturing, medical research and deep space radar. The collaborations also span life sciences, communications, in-orbit servicing, Earth observation and advanced materials.
They showcase the breadth of expertise across the UK’s vibrant space sector, which employs more than 55,000 people and generates £18.6bn in annual revenue.
Keeping the UK at the cutting-edge of space innovation
The space funding boost, announced during the International Astronautical Congress (IAC) in Sydney, demonstrates the UK’s commitment to international partnerships and a wide range of areas where the space sector can contribute to economic growth.
As set out in the Government’s Industrial Strategy, the UK Space Agency is increasing bilateral research & development funding with international allies.
The IBF is a critical mechanism for this, providing targeted support for UK-led international collaborations and building capabilities and partnerships across the global space sector.
Space Minister Liz Lloyd said: “This £6.5m boost shows Britain leading the way in space innovation.
“From improving mobile coverage to monitoring Earth’s forests, these 23 projects will create jobs, strengthen partnerships with our allies, and keep the UK at the cutting edge of space technology. It’s an exciting time for our space sector and great news for British businesses reaching for the stars.”
Which transformative projects will receive funding?
Some of the 23 projects moving forward to accelerate space innovation include:
UK-India-5G-from-orbit, AccelerComm Ltd x Radisys India Ltd
The next generation of Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTNs) is dependent on 5G base stations operating on board satellites.
This project will integrate the latest versions of AccelerComm’s technology into Radisys’s lab in India, providing a valuable resource for joint research and demonstrations to customers and partners worldwide.
ARGUS: Autonomous Rendezvous for GEO Utility & Surveillance, Lunasa Ltd x Space Machines Company PTY Ltd
This project will develop a key technology for an upcoming ISAM mission, integrating Lúnasa’s autonomous StarLogic RPO kit into Space Machines’ commercial GEO inspection satellite, GEO-Viper.
RANGER: Relative Autonomous Navigation for GNSS-Enabled Rendezvous, Lunasa Ltd x Infinite Orbits
This project aims to advance Lúnasa’s high-precision R-GNSS relative navigation technology from TRL 5 to TRL 7 through integration with Infinite Orbits’ servicing satellite, in preparation for a forthcoming commercial in-orbit servicing mission.
UK detector technology for NASA high-resolution imaging of the Moon and Mars, Open University x BAE Space Mission Systems x University of Arizona
This project will design a TDI rolling scene simulator and conduct radiation testing of the CIS125 detector at Moon/Mars mission representative doses to advance the UK-developed CIS125 ‘CCD in CMOS’ detector for future high-resolution imaging missions to the Moon, Mars, and Earth.
Flora Fidelity: Advancing Hyperspectral Forestry Monitoring Through UK-Canada Space Collaboration, Gentian x Bullfinch Earth
A UK-Canadian collaboration applying Earth observation, wearable sensors and AI technologies to solve long-standing challenges in forest monitoring: the lack of efficient forest surveys combining below-crown and above-crown forest data and the difficulty in obtaining accurate, low-cost, precisely located ecological data for training satellite-based models.
View the full list of projects here.
Dr Paul Bate, Chief Executive of the UK Space Agency, concluded: “These new projects span the full spectrum of UK space expertise, from telecommunications, propulsion and environmental monitoring to cutting-edge technologies that could change how we develop treatments for deadly diseases using microgravity.
“By combining home-grown talent with global expertise, we want to strengthen our capabilities, support growth, and ensure the UK remains at the forefront of space innovation.”
