Our goal
Ubiquitous, high-performance connectivity will be a critical enabler for the projected £13–20 trillion annual economic potential of AI. To meet this demand, the world requires a new class of technology that is lower cost than both terrestrial towers and satellites. This programme aims to build that missing link by unlocking the stratosphere as a persistent operating environment.
We are backing teams to solve the interdependent challenges of flight and energy to create a resilient and sustainable platform layer between Earth and space. Success will be measured by a single, galvanising demonstration: keeping a platform aloft for one week while maintaining line-of-sight to a fixed ground point and continuously powering a 300W payload. This technical breakthrough will provide the physical backbone required for next-generation advanced communications.
Technical Areas
We are funding ambitious projects across 3 Technical Areas (TAs) to solve the interdependent challenges of stratospheric endurance.
Enabling Technologies
Focused on game-changing enabling technologies — such as power beaming, high-density energy storage, or novel materials — that make the development of a full system comparatively low risk.
System Integration + Testing
Focused on developing and testing the platforms to achieve the primary metric: continuous delivery of power to a payload while keeping station.
Deployment + Communications Architecture
Focused on technical, regulatory and commercial viability.
Funding opportunities
We’re looking for teams that bridge aerospace engineering, materials science, and energy systems. Whether you are improving a subsystem or proposing a radically new vehicle architecture, we want to hear from you.
The call for full proposals will open on 20 February 2026.
Meet the programme team
Our Programme Directors are supported by a core team that provides a blend of operational coordination and highly specialised technical expertise.
Rico Chandra
Programme Director
Rico is a repeat founder who built his career in defence technologies. He has advised governments, investors, and high-growth companies on emerging tech and their strategic impact. He founded Arktis Radiation Detectors, whose systems are now deployed worldwide. Rico holds a PhD in dark matter detection from CERN and an MSc from ETH Zurich.
Caitlin Kubala
Programme Specialist
Prior to joining ARIA, Caitlin led on Cyber Security projects at a New Zealand bank, with a focus on strengthening digital defences and ensuring regulatory compliance. Caitlin supports ARIA as an operating partner from Pace.
C. David Lewis, II
Technical Specialist
David brings 20+ years of experience in high-risk research, development, and testing. He’s held directorship, management, and professorship roles at the Air Force Research Laboratory, DARPA’s Defense Sciences Office, and the Air Force Institute of Technology. David holds a PhD in many-body quantum mechanics and has passion for cosmology, field theories, and philosophy of science.
Scoping Our Planet
In Scoping Our Planet, we seek to unite frontier platforms, sensors, and AI models to revolutionise our understanding of our Earth system, maximise planetary resilience and revolutionise global business.
Forecasting Tipping Points
This programme aims to create an early warning system for tipping points that equips the world with the information we need to build resilience and accelerate proactive climate adaptation.