Glasgow City Innovation District unveils new Venture Studio cohort driving space data solutions for industry

Eight companies have joined the Glasgow City Innovation District (GCID) Venture Studio Challenge pillar, looking to drive technological advancements in space data and sustainability solutions across various sectors.

The first cohort to join the challenge pillar will take part in the 'space data for industry' programme, providing them with grant funding to help them create innovative solutions that use space data to further collaborations with customers. The cohort represents a wide spectrum of expertise, including Earth Observation, fleet management, cybersecurity, IoT, and renewable energy, highlighting Glasgow's commitment to being the leader of Space technology and sustainability innovation.

"Each of these Glasgow based companies brings a unique perspective through the use of Space data to the world's most pressing challenges, and importantly each company has brought an industry challenge partner on board who will work alongside the project teams ensuring the delivery of a commercially focused solution" said Alisdair Gunn, Director, Glasgow City Innovation District.

Derek Shaw, Director, Scaling Innovation, at Scottish Enterprise, said: "As the demand for satellite data from a wide range of customers grows, so do the economic opportunities associated with the space data management market. Governments want to analyse it from a disaster preparedness perspective. Academics need it for their research. And businesses spanning fisheries to insurers, and everything in between are tuning into its value. So, it's important that we support the development of our home-grown companies, particularly when we've identified space as an industry where Scotland can take a leading role."

As part of the cohort, GCID, alongside support partner Scottish Enterprise, will be working with the following organisations and their industry partners on eight new customer driven projects:

AAC Clyde Space Ltd

AAC Clyde Space aims to improve global environmental monitoring through a low-cost, high-resolution Earth Observation (EO) data solution. By utilising UAV surveys to create simulated satellite image products, the project focuses on demonstrating the benefits of enhanced spatial resolution. Combined with a daily revisit frequency, this will make EO data more accessible and applicable across diverse industries, from agriculture to resource management.

Bypass

As enterprises transition from fossil fuel-based vehicles to electric vehicles (EVs), Bypass provides a sophisticated fleet management solution designed to manage connected smart vehicles. By leveraging real-time GPS data and advanced analytics, IonEV will streamline core fleet workflows, meeting the increasing demands of EV fleet management and enhancing operational efficiency.

Craft Prospect Limited

With the Earth Observation industry projected to grow significantly, Craft Prospect Ltd tackles the data transmission bottleneck by enabling on-board satellite data processing. Through a partnership with hyperspectral imaging experts, this project will prioritise high-value data for transmission, showcasing efficient data handling for EO applications in conjunction with strategic industry partners.

Digital Content Analysis Technology Ltd (D-CAT)

D-CAT, in collaboration with Kana Earth, is creating a comprehensive platform that integrates satellite remote sensing data to support natural capital projects. With the goal of unlocking the potential of natural capital as an asset class, this project looks to empowers investors with reliable, high-quality environmental data, bolstering the shift toward sustainable investments in line with net-zero targets.

Krucial

Partnering with Pelion, Krucial is assessing the technical, operational, and commercial viability of combining its hybrid satellite-enabled IoT technology with Pelion's cellular-enabled solution. Addressing communication challenges in remote, off-grid locations, the project aims to unlock new opportunities in markets like mining and energy, demonstrating the commercial potential of satellite-enabled IoT solutions.

Lupovis Ltd

In an era of rising cybersecurity threats, Lupovis Ltd provides dynamic deception environments for space data infrastructures, proactively diverting attackers away from critical systems. By deploying tailored cybersecurity measures in space applications, Lupovis aims to reinforce national and international data security in the face of growing cyber challenges.

Trade in Space Ltd

Through a collaboration with Alba Orbital, Trade in Space is designing a mission to deploy IoT-enabled PocketQube satellites to monitor water usage in agriculture, a critical factor in sustainable food production. With sensors gathering data on water flow rates and environmental parameters, this project provides an accessible, scalable solution for water management in remote areas worldwide.

Trios Renewables

Aiming to standardise Technical Due Diligence (TDD) for offshore wind investments, Trios Renewables will leverage global satellite-driven models to streamline the TDD process. This project supports a more robust and efficient evaluation of wind energy projects, empowering investors to make informed decisions with consistent and reliable data.

The GCID Venture Studio is a springboard for impactful tech-driven initiatives, supporting businesses that address real-world challenges with practical, scalable solutions. As these companies develop, they underscore Glasgow's role as a leader in sustainable and transformative technology.

This project is funded by Glasgow City Council and UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.