Software & Technology

Edinburgh is a hub for Scotland's burgeoning space sector. The city is home to exciting companies such as Skyrora, which designs, manufactures, and deploys rockets for use by small satellite manufacturers; Converge Space Challenge Award-winner Pleiades Dynamics, which is developing reusable launch technology; and to Alpha Data, which manufactures radiation-resilient components for the NewSpace market.

The Dutch Celestia Technologies Group has established a laboratory and assembly facility in Edinburgh specialising in satellite antenna for aircraft. The Canadian firm PCI Geomatics (which provides advanced Earth observation image processing solutions) has a presence in Edinburgh, as does the American firm Rhea Space Activity (which specialises in providing communication and navigation solutions in challenging environments including space and the deep sea).

Other Edinburgh-based companies active in this fast-growing sector include Ecometrica (which uses satellite data for environmental monitoring); Aurora Avionics (a launch vehicle avionics specialist, with clients including the Taiwan Space Agency); and AstroAgency (a specialist communications and market intelligence agency for the space sector). The UK Space Agency - the executive agency that supports the UK's space ecosystem - has a regional office in Edinburgh, while Space Scotland - the voice of Scotland's space industry - is based in the city.

"We moved to GRID at Heriot-Watt University in January 2020, having chosen Scotland because of its burgeoning space sector, which is characterised by a high level of skill, R&D and investment. To fuel our growth, we're able to build a team from a wealth of talent on the doorstep at Heriot-Watt and other universities, as well as from professionals within the Scottish space industry who value the location, facilities and beautiful environment of the Research Park."

– José Alonso, Chair, Celestia Technologies Group

Edinburgh is home to the UK Astronomy Technology Centre (ATC), the UK's national centre of excellent for the development of astronomical instrumentation and facilities. The ATC designs and builds state-of-the-art instruments including cameras, spectrometers, and telescope systems. Major pieces of technology developed by the ATC include MOONS, the largest and most complex astronomical instrument ever built in the UK, which was dispatched to the Very Large Telescope at the Paranal Observatory in Chile in December 2025. The ATC also houses the Higgs Centre for Innovation, a business incubator for companies in the fields of astronomy, particle physics, and data-intensive science.

"Watching MOONS leave Edinburgh was a proud and emotional moment for our team. This instrument represents years of work and dedication by many outstanding people. Building MOONS was one challenge; moving it across the globe and installing it at the VLT is another. The logistics are remarkably complex, and we worked closely with specialists to ensure this unique instrument reaches Chile securely, ready to be installed and see its first light."

- Dr. Oscar Gonzalez, Head of Project Science Strategy, UK Astronomy Technology Centre

The Hub Optical Ground Station (HOGS) at Heriot-Watt University aims to demonstrate and test satellite quantum secure communications as well as supporting research into fields such as astronomy and astrophotonics.

The Bayes Centre of the University of Edinburgh conducts a huge range of research relating to the space sector.

"Scotland is a global hub for satellite manufacturing and the analysis of satellite data, and it is increasingly becoming a leading destination for satellite launch. We have seen a significant rise in space organisations across the Scottish space ecosystem and it's crucial we nurture their skills and expertise, and connect them with the wider sector, to ensure we continue this journey."

– Dr. Paul Bate, Chief Executive Officer, UK Space Agency