SMG Secures £6m to Strengthen UK Sovereign Semiconductor Capability
Silicon Microgravity Limited (SMG), the UK advanced semiconductor company pioneering next-generation MEMS technologies, has secured £6 million in funding to accelerate commercial growth across the defence, space and semiconductor sectors.
The round includes investment from the UK Innovation & Science Seed Fund (UKI2S), managed by Future Planet Capital, with participation from both the UKI2S Defence & Security and Space portfolios, alongside lead investor West Hill Capital.
The investment marks UKI2S's first participation in SMG through its Space Portfolio, building on the company's existing relationship with the fund's Defence & Security portfolio, and comes as SMG achieves growing commercial traction with a number of globally recognised customers.
SMG's proprietary technology enables the production of high performance microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) devices designed for extreme operating environments. These technologies are increasingly critical for modern defence systems, satellite communications, navigation, sensing and autonomous operations.
The company’s MEMS accelerometers are already supporting advanced space programmes, with applications spanning launch vehicles, lunar and planetary exploration, satellite enabled critical mineral exploration alongside wider dual-use commercial and sovereign capability deployments.
The funding will support SMG’s continued scale-up of UK manufacturing capability, expansion of its engineering and semiconductor production capacity, and acceleration of commercial partnerships across Europe and the US.
As global demand intensifies for resilient, sovereign semiconductor supply chains and dual-use technologies, SMG is positioning itself as a strategically important UK player operating at the intersection of advanced manufacturing, defence and space infrastructure.
Francis Neill, CEO of SMG commented: “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.”
Alexander Leigh, Investment Director, Defence & Security, UKI2S (managed by Future Planet Capital), added: “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.”
David Hollidge, Partner of West Hill Capital, added, “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 defenDce, aerospace and subterranean exploration.”