GovWire

Earth observation (EO) is a vital science and a growing industry, and we are investing in projects which benefit our planet and grow our economy. EO supports the UK to become a science superpower and prioritises our space and net zero ambitions more than half of key climate data comes from space.

The UK has a vibrant landscape of world leading EO academic and industrial organisations and a well-founded reputation for excellence in EO. For example, in climate science, leading UK research institutions have been measuring sea and land surface temperature from space for over 3 decades (RAL Space, Leicester University, Reading University and Oxford University) brought together through NERCs National Centre for Earth Observation. This data is used by meteorological agencies, including the Met Office, around the world to improve weather forecast accuracy helping to save lives, infrastructure and crops.

In the national space strategy, HMG committed to remain at the forefront of earth observation technology and knowhow. The projects below will deliver an essential funding boost to recognise the importance of this sector, benefiting academia and industry and building our national capability.

The funding is spread across 17 projects which will deliver benefits across the UK and include a broad range of activities from measuring wind speeds to improving the accuracy of climate data, and from funding SME projects to additional PhD places. Some projects will involve new or extended collaborations with international partners such as Australia.