Canadian space firm PCI Geomatics expands operations in Scotland

PCI Geomatics (doing business as Catalyst) has chosen the Scottish city of Edinburgh as the latest hub in its ongoing global expansion. The new office, located at the Futures Institute, reinforces PCI’s commitment to the United Kingdom’s dynamic space ecosystem –complementing its existing presence at the Harwell Space Cluster in England. Headquartered in Canada, PCI Geomatics is a leading Earth observation (EO) company with over 40 years of experience supporting major space sector players.

Catalyst is a PCI Geomatics brand that delivers scalable business solutions using the power of Earth observation data and analytics. Through Catalyst, PCI provides advanced image processing technologies that transform satellite data into actionable intelligence for climate resilience, infrastructure monitoring, and environmental protection.

PCI’s focus areas include the detection and monitoring of ground displacement affecting critical infrastructure, the assessment of vegetation encroachment along transportation and utility corridors, and the analysis of soil moisture conditions to help predict and mitigate natural hazards such as landslides – achieving greater accuracy and timeliness than traditional methods.

Scotland’s reputation as a growing centre for space-enabled applications makes it a strategic choice. With more than 30 companies dedicated to observing and protecting the planet, the Scottish space sector offers a collaborative and innovative environment aligned with PCI’s mission and capabilities.

As part of its UK expansion, PCI is actively recruiting for multiple positions in Scotland and across the country, underlining its long-term investment in the region. Speaking on the company’s growing Scottish presence, president and CEO June McAlarey stated: “Scotland’s rising profile in the global space economy has been unmistakable. When exploring locations to complement our Canadian headquarters, the UK quickly stood out as a strategic gateway to Europe and the Middle East. We now have a growing team across the UK and are excited to expand our Scottish office in the coming weeks."

Scotland’s space ecosystem

Scotland’s space ecosystem is growing rapidly, now home to more than 180 companies contributing to a robust end-to-end capability in small satellite development. The country leads Europe in small satellite production and is poised to make history as the home of European spaceflight in the coming months.

Against this backdrop, PCI Geomatics has been proactive in engaging with Scottish stakeholders. The company recently joined Space Scotland, the national industry body, and took part in a Scottish Earth Observation showcase held at the British Embassy in Denmark. The event focused on how satellite-sourced data can support the financial services sector, including asset managers, banks, insurance companies and organizations with environmental, social and governance (ESG) or supply chain sustainability goals. Participants, including Copenhagen Fintech and other financial services stakeholders, explored how Scottish space businesses are using satellite-derived innovation to enhance decision-making and strengthen investment portfolio resilience.

Unlocking the value of space data

Business Minister Richard Lochhead said: "Scotland is well on the way to becoming a European leader in the space sector. PCI’s arrival adds to Edinburgh’s considerable reputation as a ‘data capital’ and takes us closer to our ambition to capture £4 billion of the global space market.” He added: “The number of space-related organizations based on Scotland rose by 25% within a year, with the sector’s total income increasing by 65%, demonstrating the phenomenal pace of growth and scale of opportunity before us. This is why the Scottish Government appointed its first ever Space Envoy, Daniel Smith, last year who is boosting Scotland’s global standing and helping businesses forge strategic partnerships and identify new opportunities."

The UK Space Agency also welcomed PCI’s growing presence in Scotland. "Scotland’s space sector attracts significant levels of private investment and is playing an important role in unlocking the value of space data for the wider economy. We welcome the presence of international companies like PCI as a key driver of innovation, expertise and creation” said Dr Craig Brown, investment director at the UK Space Agency. "This new development supports our commitment to grow the space economy across the whole of the UK and to advance Earth observation technology, which is a vital tool for protecting our planet."