Emerging Technologies: Innovation Cycle

What is the Emerging Technologies Webinar series?

The Emerging Technologies webinar series offer unparalleled insights into cutting-edge advancements across the space sector, fostering a deeper understanding of the rapidly evolving space ecosystem, and empowering professionals to stay at the forefront of innovation in this pivotal industry. Co-ordinated by the Satellite Applications Catapult and the University of Glasgow, each webinar explores a unique thematic area with respect to the sectors emerging technologies.

Our upcoming webinar will focus on Developing a Sustainable Lunar Economy – find out more and sign up here.

The last event focussed on the innovation cycle, from ideation of technology areas to funding concept, to research and development. The innovation cycle is essential for sustaining economic vitality, enhancing competitive edges, and driving societal progress. By embracing and actively participating in this cycle, researchers, organisations, and individuals can contribute to ongoing advancements and improvements across both our society and economy. The recording can be accessed here

Horizon scanning for novel technologies

Simone Boekelaar, Head of Horizon Scanning at Innovate UK (IUK), kicked off the webinar, delivering their keynote on the recent IUK 50 Emerging Technologies report. This report has historically been an internally facing document, available to UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) staff, but for the first in 2023, we published publicly. It represents some of the work the IUK Horizon Scanning team do with respect to mapping technologies and disruptors on a long-term, 10-20 year horizon, including extrapolating baseline technology, and understanding market change as proxies for technology development.

The report, formed through consultation, aims to develop thinking and understanding around novel concepts, and stimulate interesting conversations that may span sectors; it does not represent a funding pipeline. For the report, innovative technologies were identified via a multi-step process. There are seven technology families in total, with the report able to be used for:

• Technology identification
• Technology prioritisation
• Sector/technology vision
• Scenario creation
• Trend identification and impact
• Futures thinking

Entrepreneurship in the space sector

Craig Clark, University of Strathclyde, spoke about entrepreneurship. Craig set up Clyde Space, an organisation that developed small sats. During the talk, Craig looked at the value chain, with R&D from universities developing low Technology Readiness Level (TRL) technologies (TRL 1-3). ClydeSpace secured £1m funding to develop their first satellite with UKube1. In 2019, Clyde Space joined AAC Microtec to combine and strengthen the two companies’ position in the small and nanosatellite market.

Craig was asked about the turning point for his company; he noted that there wasn’t a specific turning point and it was incredibly challenging to lead the business. He talked about what enabled the huge success of Clyde Space, and this including having a mentor and government support, as well being brave, asking for what you need (if you don’t ask, you don’t get mantra), and having a sales focus.

Funding to solve big challenges

Emma Hallows and Yvonne Chow, from DSIT’s R&D Investment Portfolio team talked about the recent call to the Research Ventures Catalyst Fund. The thinking around this funding opportunity stemmed from recommendations made in the ‘Research, development and innovation (RDI) organisational landscape: an independent review (Nurse Review)’, including that the UK Government should be consciously investing in a greater diversity of organisational types and approaches.

The aim of this funding was therefore to support the resolving of specific research challenges that cannot be conducted by existing organisations, because, for example, the challenges are too complex and require a multidisciplinary approach, or solutions are not yet close enough to the market for business to adopt. The Research Ventures Catalyst Fund sought to tackle these challenges by provisioning funding for new types of organisational models that may not be possible in traditional organisations.

Ultimately DSIT intends to fund 2-5 new organisations with up to £25m government funding alongside matched non-public co-investment.

Space robotics and onboard autonomy

Moving on to a series of shorter talks on UKSA funded Enabling Technologies Programme (ETP) award holders: Karl Buckley, Robotics Engineer at GMV spoke about their project on Space Robotics and Onboard Autonomy. The project, called REALM, will support the development of a novel distributed simulation environment using a robotic testbed with digital twins and cutting-edge extended reality to verify and validate IOSM operations. This will be a highly innovative and enabling technology for in-orbit refuelling and satellite servicing.  Karl noted that barriers include wanting to see more UK facilities that support validation and verification of a distributed nature (existing facilities include those in Westcott, UK (Satellite Applications Catapult) and Madrid (GMV)).

Developing an in-space propellant supply chain

Avy Kolhatkar, Programme Manager at Orbitfab spoke about their ETP project, GRASP: Grasping and Resupply Active Solution for Propellants. OrbitFab’s mission is to build the in-space propellant supply chain, and the project will develop an in-orbit refuelling interface, using a grasping technique, to enhance satellite servicing solutions that support sustainable space operations. The ambition is to increase the technology to a TRL 4, and will include docking, and water transfer and leak tests.

Sustainable propulsion systems

Patrick Harkness, Professor of Exploration Technology from the University of Glasgow, spoke about their ETP project: experimental development of autophage rocket propulsion system technologies for small satellite rapid low-earth orbit access. This project aims to conduct pilot scale testing of an autophage (self-consuming) propulsion system – whereby the spacecraft consumes its own body as fuel – which supports scalable, cost-effective low Earth orbit access. Patrick noted the innovation cycle is a potential barrier. Patrick explained that academic research gives way to development, which gives way to commercial applications; typically development and commercial applications are not something a university can support (e.g. engineering quality processes that are associated with manufacturing). Patrik noted that project challenges include exploiting this relatively low TRL at present, will need to be handed over or spun out.

Improved imagery from Dynamic Range

Our final speaker for the ETP session was Hugh Jones, Professor of Astronomy, from the University of Hertfordshire. This project, called Dynamic Range Unleashed, aims to remove the constraints of full-well depth from bright objects in the frame for complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) imaging sensors to support astronomy, in collaboration with XCAM, Teledyne e2v, and the Open University. The project holds importance for supporting missions like the Habitable Worlds Observatory, autonomous activity on Earth, and microscopy. When asked about challenges he wishes to overcome, Hugh noted that he would like to make technology more user friendly with the use of suitable control.

If you are interested in contributing to upcoming Emerging Technology webinars, or have any questions, please contact ke@sa.catapult.org.uk.

Additional information:

Community input to the next IUK 50 Emerging Technologies report has now closed, but thoughts and suggestions can be gathered by emailing horizonscanning@iuk.ukri.org. The next community consultation will be circulated in about 18 months’ time.

If you would like to find out more about the Research Ventures Catalyst Fund and/or if you’re interested in any of the 12 successful proposals above, please contact: researchventures@dsit.gov.uk.

Successful applications in the second phase of the Research Ventures Catalyst Fund: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/research-ventures-catalyst-successful-applications.