Major financial boost to develop South's space sector
Projects in our region have secured more than £1.2m in funding
Projects which form part of the South's space sector been awarded £1.2 million by the UK Space Agency in a drive to boost further innovation and growth.
It includes £300,000 for the newly-formed Space South Central, the UK’s largest ‘space cluster’.
The money will support its aims to promote collaboration and investment and champion space-related business, research and development across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.
The initiative brings together more than 125 of the region’s space-related businesses, and the universities of Portsmouth and Southampton.
Professor Adrian Hopgood, Director of the South Coast Centre of Excellence in Satellite Applications and Professor of Intelligent Systems at the University of Portsmouth, said:
"The fact that £1.2 million of the total £6.5 million of UK Space Agency funding was awarded to the south-central region is a testament to the extensive space expertise and world-leading businesses based here.
"This investment will help Space South Central build on the legacy of the SCCoE to grow the region’s space sector, harnessing its diverse expertise, developing stronger partnerships and growing its national and international reputation.”
A further £485,000 will go towards upgrades to the reliability of the Science and Technology Council’s RAL Chilbolton Advanced Satellite Tracking Radar, near Stockbridge in Hampshire.
"One of three national sensors, it can detect space objects about the size of a toaster at an altitude of 1,000 km and provides crucial data for satellite tracking operations.
The South accounts for an estimated £3 billion of national space industry turnover, with more than 5,600 people working in the space sector at companies including BAE Systems, Airbus Defence and Space, In-Space Missions and SSTL.
The area boasts a world-class reputation for satellite manufacture and data services, launch technologies, next-generation communications, robotics and autonomous systems.
Dr Paul Bate, Chief Executive of the UK Space Agency, said: “Establishing a network of space clusters and high-impact projects will accelerate the development of the thriving space ecosystem the UK needs to realise the full economic potential of space across the UK.
“We’ve been working with the regions to understand their strengths and the needs of their local space economies so that we can back these clusters of excellence to collaborate, grow and thrive.”