North East Companies Awarded Space Ecosystem Commercialisation Programme Funding

Space North East England is proud to announce that three highly innovative companies from our regional space ecosystem have secured funding through the Space Ecosystem Commercialisation Programme (SECP) — a £1.4 million initiative part-funded by the UK Space Agency and led by Midlands Aerospace Alliance.

SECP is designed to accelerate the commercialisation of space technologies by empowering SMEs to fast-track R&D, strengthen capability and bring new products and services to market. Delivered nationally through six regional space clusters — including Space North East England - the programme is a major boost for companies looking to scale technical innovation and open new commercial pathways in the UK and global space sectors.

The programme offers rapid grants from £1,000 to £30,000, expert cluster support, and a clear focus on enabling SMEs to turn promising ideas into deployable, investable, and commercially viable solutions. Eligible costs include labour, materials, hardware and software, consultancy, research equipment, overheads, travel, and more — giving companies the flexibility to tackle the specific challenges standing between innovation and market readiness.

Below, we showcase the three North East organisations receiving SECP awards and the pioneering work their projects will unlock.

DigVentures - Transforming Satellite Data Through Citizen Science

DigVentures is advancing Deep Time, an innovative citizen science platform designed to validate and enrich datasets derived from satellite, LiDAR and historic mapping. The platform mobilises trained volunteers to interpret Earth Observation (EO) imagery and feed high-quality, verified spatial data into a web-GIS system.

The SECP-funded phase will deliver three major enhancements:

• Real-time QA Validation Mode – enabling collaborative, consistent quality assurance across EO datasets.

• Public Data Explorer – a FAIR-compliant, open-access interface allowing wider audiences to explore validated EO data.

• Enhanced Partner Dashboards – providing automated reporting and analytics for integration into statutory workflows such as LNRS (Local Nature Recovery Strategies) and BNG (Biodiversity Net Gain).

  
  

Together, these innovations will strengthen how EO data is interpreted and applied across environmental management, heritage monitoring and national policymaking.

Nascent Semiconductor - Building a UK Supply Chain for Next-Generation Space Electronics

Nascent Semiconductor is developing a novel and highly manufacturable silicon carbide (SiC) fabrication process to produce robust electronic components designed for the extreme conditions of space.

Space systems demand electronics that can withstand:

• vacuum

• radiation

• temperature fluctuations from -200°C to +150°C

Conventional electronics often fail under these stresses; Nascent’s approach aims to significantly improve reliability and reduce redundancy requirements for satellite missions.

Key outcomes of the project include:

• A scalable UK-based process for producing space-grade SiC transistors and components

• Strengthened sovereign capability in semiconductor manufacturing

• Enhanced reliability for next-generation satellite platforms, supporting the UK’s ambitions in resilient space infrastructure

  
  

Viper RF - Accelerating High-Bandwidth Satellite Communications

Viper RF will use SECP funding to further commercialise its Ka-band High Power Amplifier (HPA) MMIC for Earth Observation telemetry. Ka-band (26 GHz) offers four times the bandwidth of X-band, enabling dramatically faster multi-Gb/s downlinks for Low Earth Orbit satellites.

This aligns with global moves — including ESA and NASA recommendations — to transition Earth Observation missions towards Ka-band to unlock higher data-volume transmission.

The project will support Viper RF in refining, productionising and bringing this high-performance amplifier to commercial readiness, helping position the North East as a contributor to next-generation satellite communication technology.

A Testament to the North East’s Growing Space Capability

These three projects highlight the breadth, depth and commercial strength of the North East’s space innovation landscape - from semiconductor manufacturing and high-frequency communications to digital platforms harnessing volunteer science.

As a regional cluster, Space North East England will continue to support companies through SECP and other UKSA-aligned programmes, opening pathways for collaboration, investment and commercial growth.

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