Sixteen UK space technology projects are to share £13 million in government funding, with initiatives ranging from satellite broadband for trains in remote Scotland to low-cost sensors designed to help farmers monitor crops.
The funding was announced by the UK Space Agency on Tuesday and will be delivered through the European Space Agency’s Advanced Research in Telecommunication Systems programme.
Officials said the investment is intended to support British companies developing satellite communications technology while creating practical applications for businesses and consumers.
Among the projects receiving funding is CGI IT UK’s SODOR initiative, which has been awarded £428,000 to equip a ScotRail train operating on the West Highland Line with satellite communications equipment.
The trial aims to provide reliable broadband along one of Britain’s most remote railway routes, where traditional mobile and broadband networks can be limited or unavailable.
The UK Space Agency said the project supports the government’s wider ambition to expand satellite connectivity across mainland rail services, potentially improving internet availability and connection speeds for passengers.
Agriculture is another major focus of the funding. London-based Farmer Charlie has received £199,000 for its GAUFF project, which will develop inexpensive sensors using satellite and mobile connectivity to provide farmers with real-time information about crops, soil and local environmental conditions.
The equipment is being designed for rural locations where internet access is weak or unavailable and is expected to be ready by the end of next summer.
Space Minister Liz Lloyd said the funding showed how satellite technology could produce practical benefits while strengthening the UK’s position in the global space industry.
She said the investment would support improved connectivity, smarter farming, high-quality jobs and new opportunities across the country.
The largest award, worth £2.1 million, has gone to London-based Exobotics for its STARS project. Working with Archangel Lightworks and the University of Nottingham, the company will develop optical communications technology designed to provide near real-time links for satellite operators. The project is also expected to deliver the first satellites in a planned data relay network.
Airbus Defence and Space UK in Portsmouth has received £1.5 million to develop processors that can be reprogrammed while operating in orbit. Archangel Lightworks has been awarded £1.845 million to develop laser communications capable of transmitting data between satellites and ground stations at speeds exceeding 100 gigabits per second.
Aalyria Technologies will receive £750,000 for a project with Goonhilly Earth Station in Cornwall to develop communications technology capable of maintaining links across deep-space distances. The work could support future lunar missions and programmes such as the European Space Agency’s Moonlight initiative.
Farmer Charlie chief executive Betty Bonnardel said combining affordable sensors with satellite connectivity could help growers improve productivity and make more sustainable decisions.
The UK space sector employs more than 55,000 people and contributes £18.6 billion to the economy each year, according to government figures.
The latest announcement follows a separate £62 million funding package intended to strengthen the domestic space industry and reduce reliance on foreign technology.
