Simera Sense Expands into the United Kingdom with a New Office in Glasgow
Simera Sense, headquartered in Belgium, has announced the establishment of its new subsidiary in the United Kingdom. The new office in Glasgow, Scotland, will focus on expanding the company’s product range by adding image processing capabilities and strengthening its presence in the rapidly growing UK space industry.
This expansion came shortly after Simera Sense secured EUR 13.5 million in funding from a recent investment round and followed the successful opening of another office in Toulouse, France. The Glasgow and Toulouse offices are strategically positioned to support the company’s primary production facilities in Cape Town, South Africa.
Simera Sense’s Growth Trajectory
Since its founding in 2018, Simera Sense has been on an accelerated growth path. The company has already launched 20 optical payloads into space, with over 40 payloads delivered and ready for launch, and plans to produce around 70 payloads within the next 12 months. This growth indicates the increasing demand for Simera Sense’s cutting-edge optical camera products, known for their high-resolution imaging capabilities and adaptability to a wide range of satellite platforms.
The new Glasgow office will be integral in meeting the needs of Simera Sense’s expanding customer base in the UK, facilitating closer collaborations with local partners, and tapping into the region’s burgeoning space ecosystem. The company aims to strengthen key partnerships and establish deeper ties with the West of Scotland Space Cluster, which has been instrumental in building a thriving regional space sector.
Strategic Importance of the UK Expansion
The Glasgow office will focus on developing imaging and computing capabilities to support Simera Sense’s next-generation product range. This includes launching a new image processing and ESA EDAP+ certified imagery calibration product suite, providing a complementary, turnkey offering that enhances the company’s existing optical payload solutions.
Dr Corné Eloff, Chief Science Officer (CSO) at Simera Sense, expressed the company’s enthusiasm about the new development: “The privilege to be part of Simera Sense and its growing path within the UK space ecosystem, offering excellent optical camera products to our valuable customers along with complimentary image processing and calibration solutions, is a proud moment.”
In addition, the UK office will capitalise on government incentives and programs to promote space technology and inward investment. This will enable Simera Sense to actively grow its local resources, with plans to scale operations and potentially add production capabilities in the UK to complement its existing facilities in South Africa.
Craig Clark MBE, co-chair of the West of Scotland Space Cluster and founder of Clyde Space, welcomed Simera Sense’s entry into the region, stating: “It’s great to have a space technology company like Simera Sense landing in the west of Scotland. As an inward investor with existing links to other innovative space companies in the local ecosystem, Simera Sense is exactly the global innovator that helps strengthen the region’s satellite manufacturing supply chain.”
The Vision for Global Leadership
Simera Sense’s expansion into the UK marks another significant step in the company’s mission to become the leading global provider of Earth observation payloads for the small satellite market. The company’s high-resolution, off-the-shelf cameras serve various industries, delivering cost-effective and adaptable solutions for satellite missions.
Johann du Toit, CEO of Simera Sense Group, emphasised the strategic importance of the UK office: “Having an office, and soon-to-be production capability, close to our key UK customer base is an important and exciting step in our growth.”
About Simera Sense
Founded in 2018, Simera Sense is a renowned provider of end-to-end Earth observation camera solutions tailored for the global small satellite market. Its innovative, high-resolution camera products are designed to meet the needs of diverse clients, offering flexibility in terms of mission configurations and compatibility with standard satellite bus interfaces.
With a core team driven by a passion for space technology and a commitment to revolutionising the use of small, affordable satellites, the company is at the forefront of delivering cutting-edge imaging solutions for the space industry.
For more information, contact: info@simera-sense.com