The UK Space Agency has awarded £1.5 million to six projects that combine satellite data and artificial intelligence to tackle climate challenges, modernise transport planning and improve accessibility. Announced on 15 September 2025, the funding is delivered through the Unlocking Space for Business programme to accelerate practical, scalable applications in high-impact markets.
The grants target solutions for financial services and transport, aiming to reduce emissions, support the UK’s net zero goals and expand inclusive mobility. According to the agency, the initiative complements wider industrial priorities while creating commercial opportunities for the UK space sector, which employs around 56,000 people. Across its programmes, the agency reports catalysed investment and revenue of at least £2.2 billion in 2024/25.
Funded projects
- Ether Capital Ltd – Real-Time Carbon Risk Dashboard for Trade Finance: Integrates satellite vessel-tracking data with AI to quantify and monitor shipping emissions, supporting compliance and risk management for maritime finance, insurers and operators. Partners: AAC Clyde Space and Morphing.ai.
- Foresight Group – Satellite Intelligence for Climate and Nature Risk: Converts Earth observation into financial insights to assess climate and nature-related risks for investors. Partner: Frontierra.
- Furrer+Frey GB Ltd – ECOFAST (Electrification Cost Optimisation, Feasibility Analytics & Savings Tool): Uses satellite imagery and AI to speed up and optimise railway electrification planning, cutting timelines and costs. Partner: Airbus Defence and Space.
- Howden – Biodiversity Risk Assessment: Builds a satellite-enabled system to monitor land-use change and support nature-related disclosures and regulatory compliance for insurers and businesses. Partners: Howden Resilience Laboratory and CATALYST Earth.
- MakeSense Technology – Navigation for Blind and Visually Impaired Pedestrians: Applies Earth observation data to generate safe, high-precision walking routes, enabling more spontaneous and independent travel. Partner: GIS Navigator.
- Rebalance Earth – ALAN (Accelerated Landscape Assessment for Nature Investments): Deploys satellite analytics to support decisions in nature-based carbon projects such as reforestation. Partner: Treeconomy Ltd.
Market impact
- Decarbonising maritime trade: Real-time emissions tracking can inform financing, insurance and operational decisions under tightening regulations.
- Faster rail electrification: Automated, high-precision design could reduce project risk and costs, helping accelerate low-carbon infrastructure.
- Inclusive mobility: EO-powered routing aims to improve navigation for blind and visually impaired pedestrians, supporting safer, more independent travel.
- Stronger green finance: Satellite intelligence for climate, biodiversity and nature risk can enhance disclosures and investment decisions.
Programme context
Unlocking Space for Business addresses barriers to adopting space-enabled solutions and has engaged more than 350 organisations to date across insurance, investment, transport and logistics. It sits within the UK Space Agency’s broader Unlocking Space Programme, focused on growing high-potential UK space companies by opening revenue and investment pathways and enabling export-ready services.
Further details are available in the UK Space Agency press release.
