Five new UK-based projects will use satellite data to drive innovation in public services, following over £2.5 million in funding from the UK Space Agency and the European Space Agency’s InCubed2 programme
The announcement was made at the Living Planet Symposium 2025 in Vienna, where the focus was mainly on the practical applications of space technology on Earth.
These five new projects will bring together space tech companies and public sector organisations to tackle challenges ranging from infrastructure safety and biodiversity to climate change and sustainable farming.
Using space data for safer infrastructure
One of the new initiatives, CORE (COrner Reflector Enabled Remote Sensing), is being developed by Geospatial Ventures in Nottingham. This project focuses on tracking small movements in buildings, bridges, and other key infrastructure. Using radar and artificial intelligence; the system can detect early signs of structural issues, helping avoid potential failures while saving time and money on physical inspections.
By offering continuous remote monitoring, CORE is expected to provide a safer and more efficient way to manage infrastructure, particularly in hard-to-reach or hazardous locations.
Boosting biodiversity on farmland
In Glasgow, AAC Clyde Space is developing THICKET, a biodiversity mapping tool that provides farmers with insights into the ecosystems on their land. Drawing on frequent high-resolution satellite imagery, the tool will help identify local plant and animal life.
This information supports environmentally friendly land management, allowing farmers to better align with schemes like the Sustainable Farming Incentive.
THICKET is designed to make sustainability easier and more accessible, ultimately helping to preserve and enhance natural habitats.
Tackling methane emissions
One of the other projects led by GHGSat UK in London hopes to help the UK meet its climate targets by tracking greenhouse gas emissions, particularly methane. Their advanced analytics platform will convert satellite data into actionable insights for government bodies.
By identifying the sources of emissions, the project will support efforts to hold polluters accountable and develop more effective strategies to reduce environmental impact. This data will be a crucial factor in advancing towards the UK’s net-zero emissions goal by 2050.
Smarter land use
Guildford-based Earth-i is developing FANTOM (Future Analytics), a satellite-driven system that monitors environmental changes on farmland. It will supply the Rural Payments Agency with detailed land use data, supporting the agency in managing subsidies and environmental stewardship schemes.
FANTOM will help authorities understand how land is used and how it changes over time, making subsidy distribution more targeted and fair while also encouraging sustainable practices.
Monitoring biodiversity from space
HR Wallingford in Oxfordshire is leading the EO4Biodiversity project, a project designed to monitor plant and animal diversity using satellite data. Working with partners such as Water Resources South East, the team will develop tools to track biodiversity trends across regions.
This information will guide landowners, developers, and public authorities in their efforts to improve and protect habitats, supporting government goals around biodiversity net gain and nature recovery.
These projects show a shift towards space as a frontier industry in the UK’s new Industrial Strategy, which hopes to grow future-focused sectors through increased business investment and innovation.
The UK Space Agency is also launching a new climate funding call to support early-stage projects that use satellite data to combat climate change and protect natural ecosystems. With grants ranging from £40,000 to £80,000, the programme aims to nurture ideas that could evolve into robust climate solutions.
