105013Ground Exploitation Station for Satellite Based L and X-Band Monitoring for Improved Search & Rescue / Detection of Illegal Maritime ActivityClosedFeasibility StudiesInnovate UKGlobally, 90% of world trade is transported by sea. This attracts groups seeking to profit illegally through piracy, illegal fishing and trafficking in illicit goods. Around 17 billion tonnes of goods are imported into the UK every year, so illegal activity has a negative impact on the economy and the 600,000 UK jobs that directly depend on maritime trade. Consequently, the UK Government works in partnership with other nations around the world to reduce the impact of crime on this valuable trade. The SOLAS convention requires that all international vessels over 300 tonnes are fitted with Automatic Identification Systems (AIS). AIS data can be gathered by satellites, providing the positions of 100,000's of vessels globally and in real time. Criminals and pirates will disable AISs to avoid detection by coastguards. However, when a satellite phone is used, the GPS position of the handset can be detected using suitably equipped aircraft. If a handset is in use where there is no AIS data, illegal activity is likely taking place. Horizon Technologies has developed unique capability in gathering satellite phone handset location data and our technology has already saved the lives of approximately 20,000 migrants and proven successful in the detection of criminal activity. However, aircraft deployment is expensive and results in less than 1% of global waters being monitored at an estimated cost of £100m per annum. Furthermore, sat phones may not be used. We therefore established a collaboration with Spire Global to launch our technology on their small, low earth orbit satellite, starting in 2019\. In addition to Sat Phone location, we will be able to geolocate all maritime X-band radars (which no ship turns off risking collisions). This project aims at developing the Ground Exploitation Station, where all data from the 'CubeSats' will be gathered and processed, delivering vessel localization and tracking on a global scale. As such, the ground station is the crucial enabler of the whole system and successful completion will deliver a totally unique UK solution to the problems described above. This project will transform our business, generating cumulative net revenues of £42.7m after 5 years (\>10x ROI) and creating over 70 skilled UK jobs and will play a valuable role in further developing UK engineering capability, support business diversification and provide excellent opportunities for export, economic growth and job creation.