Six pioneering projects using artificial intelligence and big data have moved from concept to real-world impact, thanks to £2 million in funding from Innovate UK. The projects, which focus on major environmental issues such as coastal erosion, soil restoration, flood resilience and biodiversity, are part of a broader £7 million initiative under the Natural Environment Research Council’s (NERC) “Integrating Finance and Biodiversity for a Nature Positive Future” (IFB) programme.
Each project received grants between £250,000 and £500,000 to develop data-driven tools addressing climate and ecological risks, with several already gaining commercial traction and additional investment.
Among the standout initiatives is Ocean Ledger, which has developed a geospatial analytics platform to forecast shoreline erosion and coastal defence degradation. Targeted at insurers, councils and infrastructure planners, the technology supports better preparation for rising sea levels. The company has since been selected for Lloyd’s Lab, a leading UK Insurtech accelerator.
Meanwhile, TierraSphere, in collaboration with the University of Huddersfield, has launched an AI-powered monitoring system to track inorganic carbon sequestration in soil. The tool has already been used to restore 40 hectares in Mexico, with plans to integrate biodiversity and social impact metrics in future versions.
Other funded projects include:
Auquan and University College London, which developed an AI platform to speed up environmental due diligence for investors by quickly processing complex geospatial data;
Caledonian Climate Partners and New Gradient, who created a drone-based AI tool to streamline peatland restoration planning, recently securing a contract with the Cairngorms National Park Authority;
City Science Corporation and Caerphilly County Borough Council, who introduced a geospatial tool embedding natural capital values into local land-use planning;
Zulu Ecosystems and Severn Trent Water, who built land-use optimisation software to enhance water quality, drought resilience and flood protection through targeted habitat restoration.
Catherine Makin, Innovation Lead for Green Finance at Innovate UK, praised the programme’s early success. “Each project addresses a crucial environmental need — from coastal conservation to water resilience and peatland restoration. We’re delighted to see real progress in unlocking nature-positive investment, and the fact that several projects have already attracted follow-on funding speaks volumes.”
The commercial potential of these projects is already becoming evident. Some are in active discussions with investors, while others have secured pilot schemes and contracts to expand deployment.
“Ocean Ledger’s development accelerated dramatically with Innovate UK’s support,” said CEO Paige Roepers. “We’ve created product-ready workflows and have been invited to present our solution to major insurers through Lloyd’s Lab.”
As momentum grows globally around nature-positive investment, these projects are seen as models for how AI and data-driven solutions can deliver both environmental and economic value.
