Spiral Blue Awarded $3 Million CRC‑P Grant to Pioneer World‑First AI‑Enabled LiDAR Satellite Demonstration

MJ Akter
Sep 29
2 min read

(Sydney, NSW – 29 September 2025) — Spiral Blue has announced that it has received $3 million (AUD) under the Australian government’s Cooperative Research Centres Projects (CRC‑P) grant program. The project unites Spiral Blue Pty Ltd as lead with Macquarie University, Space Machines Company, LC60 AI, Southern Cross Space and Negentropic to deliver an in‑orbit demonstration of an AI‑enabled LiDAR multisensor system. The consortium brings together expertise in satellite hardware, Earth‑observation analytics, virtual reality, artificial intelligence and space mission operations.

Goals and benefits

The CRC‑P project will develop a world‑first LiDAR Earth‑observation capability capable of penetrating tree canopies to provide accurate and high resolution measurements of biomass, carbon storage, bushfire risk and to detect underlying structures. At the heart of the project is a low‑power, compact LiDAR sensor designed to operate on small satellites. Combining this sensor with on‑board AI and edge‑computing techniques will enable timely delivery of three‑dimensional mapping data for forestry management, carbon accounting, biodiversity surveys and disaster response. The project will transition Spiral Blue’s technology from technology readiness level (TRL) 4, where it has been validated in the laboratory, to TRL 7, demonstrating a functional prototype in an operational environment. Beyond technical innovation, the project will strengthen Australian industry partnerships, create workforce training opportunities and contribute to sovereign space capability.

“This funding will be key to helping test our technology in the stratosphere in 2026 and in space in 2027,” said Taofiq Huq, CEO of Spiral Blue. “This would not have been possible without our amazing partners, who we look forward to building a strong collaboration with over the coming years.”

About Spiral Blue

Spiral Blue is building LiDAR in space for global geospatial intelligence, with a focus on foliage penetration and 3D mapping. The company’s LiDAR technology builds on its expertise with Space Edge Computing and machine learning, enabling high‑fidelity data to be processed on‑orbit before transmission to Earth. To date Spiral Blue has launched ten Space Edge Computers and delivered multiple GIS contracts using AI and machine learning. The team’s mission is to make advanced Earth‑observation data more accessible, actionable and affordable.