Silicon Microgravity (SMG), a UK advanced semiconductor company developing MEMS (microelectromechanical systems) technologies for defence, space and dual-use commercial markets, has secured £6 million in funding led by West Hill Capital, with participation from the UK Innovation & Science Seed Fund (UKI2S), managed by Future Planet Capital, across its Defence & Security and Space portfolios.
MEMS devices from SMG are built for extreme operating environments, supporting modern defence systems, satellite communications, navigation, sensing and autonomous operations. SMG's MEMS accelerometers are already used in advanced space programmes, with applications spanning launch vehicles, lunar and planetary exploration and satellite-enabled critical mineral exploration, alongside wider dual-use commercial and sovereign capability deployments.
The funding will support continued scale-up of UK manufacturing capability, expansion of engineering and semiconductor production capacity, and acceleration of commercial partnerships across Europe and the US. The investment marks UKI2S's first participation in SMG through its Space portfolio, building on an existing relationship with the fund's Defence & Security portfolio, and comes as global demand intensifies for resilient, sovereign semiconductor supply chains and dual-use technologies.
The future of defence, autonomous systems and space exploration depends on navigation and sensing technologies that are smaller, more accurate and capable of operating where GPS cannot. This investment allows us to accelerate commercial deployment of technologies that are already attracting significant interest from global customers and partners, while continuing to build sovereign sensing capability here in the UK.
SMG represents exactly the kind of strategically important dual-use technology business the UK needs to scale. Semiconductors, sensing and advanced manufacturing are increasingly critical to both national security and the future competitiveness of the UK space sector. What makes SMG particularly compelling is the combination of deep technical differentiation and growing commercial validation from globally recognised customers. This level of traction demonstrates the relevance of UK-built advanced manufacturing capability on the international stage. Supporting sovereign capability in these areas is essential if the UK is to remain competitive in critical technologies over the coming decades.
West Hill is delighted to have had the opportunity to make a further investment in Silicon Microgravity with its world-class and truly groundbreaking technology that is revolutionising both navigational and subsurface imaging systems for defence, aerospace and subterranean exploration.
