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pen Cosmos, the leading space company using data to solve global challenges, has been selected by the UK Space Agency’s International Bilateral Fund (IBF) to develop faster, smarter ways for satellites to connect and share information, in collaboration with Japan’s Panasonic Operational Excellence Co.
The joint project, named QUIVER, will examine new ways for satellites to communicate with each other faster and more reliably. By combining the strengths of high-frequency radio with optical links, it aims to unlock real-time coordination between satellites in orbit, enabling quicker delivery of Earth Observation data and improved performance of collaborative constellations.
UK leadership in space collaboration
QUIVER is one of 23 international collaborations announced at the International Astronautical Congress (IAC) in Sydney as part of the IBF’s second funding call. Designed to strengthen the UK’s role as a trusted international space partner, the IBF aims to boost exports as well as investment into the UK’s growing space sector, which already employs more than 55,000 people and generates £18.6 billion annually.
Through this second funding call, a total of £6.8 million has been awarded to UK companies and universities working with partners in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, India, Japan, Lithuania and the USA covering everything from life sciences and in-orbit servicing to Earth observation and advanced materials.
Growing momentum
Today’s announcement follows a string of funding announcements for Open Cosmos, including the £5.15M Orpheus mission contract with Astroscale and the UK’s Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) to enhance space situational awareness.
Rafel Jorda Siquier, Founder and CEO of Open Cosmos, said: “This project, and its support from the UK Space Agency’s and International Bilateral Fund, further shows our commitment to building a truly global ecosystem with OpenConstellation. Partnering with Panasonic in Japan means we can push forward innovation in how satellites connect and share data, and that ultimately means better, faster insights for people and organisations here on Earth.”
