Howden, the global insurance and reinsurance broking group, has secured funding under the UK Space Agency’s ‘Unlocking Space for Business Grant Call 2’ to develop an advanced biodiversity risk monitoring solution powered by satellite data and artificial intelligence (AI).
The project was conducted in the Howden Resilience Laboratory, Howden’s digital innovation hub, in partnership with PCI Geomatics, a provider of earth observation (EO) solutions.
The monitoring system will combine EO data, AI, and land classification models to identify habitat boundaries and generate insights into land cover, habitat quality, and ecological change.
This approach will reportedly increase the speed and efficiency of biodiversity assessments and simplify the measurement and reporting of nature-related risks.
The solution will also equip insurers with a clearer understanding of broader environmental risk, as it will be tested on selected sites identified by DUAL, the specialist underwriting division of the Howden Group.
The tests will aim to gauge the system’s accuracy, usability, and operational value, which will be further used to refine the solution and build a commercial roadmap to offer this service at scale, across land development, renewables, agriculture, and natural resources.
The UK Space Agency programme supports companies in providing operational, customer, and environmental benefits through the use of innovative satellite data and services.
The UK Space Agency launched Call 2 after a successful pilot phase to provide government funding for pilot projects that commercialise space solutions in the Financial Services or Transport & Logistics sectors.
Matthew Foote, Head of Climate and Emerging Risk Intelligence, Climate Risk and Resilience, Howden, said, “This grant allows us to fully activate the capabilities of the Howden Resilience Laboratory, where cutting-edge technology meets world-class expertise to solve our clients’ most complex challenges. With partners such as PCI Geomatics, we are combining Earth Observation data, machine learning and insurance innovation to equip clients with the risk intelligence they need to drive nature-positive investment and meet evolving compliance demands.”
Simon McGinn, Chief Executive Officer, DUAL UK, commented, “As environmental concerns increasingly shape land development, a growing set of complex risks are emerging. It’s exciting to see a DUAL-developed product being used in a project that’s harnessing technological innovation to monitor environmental changes across landscapes, enhance risk management, and ultimately make insurance more affordable for nature-positive investments.
“This is a powerful example of how MGAs can leverage deep sector expertise to drive rapid innovation, ensuring insurance remains relevant and impactful during this critical phase of climate and nature transformation.”
Lydia Green, Head of Unlocking Space, UK Space Agency, added, “Howden’s work highlights the growing role of satellite data in solving complex environmental challenges. By translating Earth Observation into practical tools for risk assessment, this project shows how space technology can deliver real-world impact, supporting innovation in insurance and opening up new possibilities for sustainable land use and investment.”
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