Foresight Group has invested in Optera as part of a £3 million funding round aimed at expanding the company’s UK operations and strengthening its space domain awareness capabilities.
The investment round was led by the UK Innovation Science and Seed Fund, with participation from Foresight and other investors. The funding will help Optera establish its UK headquarters, expand its engineering team, and accelerate the development of advanced sensing technologies for space and defence applications.
Optera specializes in neuromorphic sensing technology, using AI-powered systems designed to operate more like the human eye. Unlike traditional cameras that capture complete images continuously, Optera’s event-based sensors detect changes in a scene, allowing operators to track fast-moving objects while using significantly less data and energy.
The technology is designed to improve space domain awareness by enabling persistent, lower-cost monitoring of objects in orbit and on the ground, including in challenging lighting conditions.
Optera has already developed space-tested capabilities through multiple years of on-orbit experience and is now expanding its UK presence to support civil, commercial, and defence-related space programs.
The company’s decision to scale in the UK reflects growing demand for space monitoring technologies, access to advanced research institutions, skilled talent, and investment opportunities within the country’s space and dual-use technology ecosystem.
Optera’s leadership said the funding will support the expansion of its UK engineering team, the delivery of new sensing programs, and the development of advanced onboard processing capabilities that allow intelligence to be generated closer to the source.
Foresight Group highlighted Optera’s technology as a major advancement in space monitoring, noting its ability to reduce data and power requirements while improving operational efficiency across security and commercial applications.
The investment is expected to help Optera build a stronger UK-based capability while contributing to the growth of high-value technology jobs and strengthening the country’s position in the global space innovation sector.
