2.5 Million Pound Boost for UK Space Technology Industry

Twenty-two innovative British companies are to share #2.5 million pounds of government support for the design and development cutting-edge space products and technologies.

As part of the UK Space Agency's National Space Technology Programme (NSTP), twenty-nine projects are receiving grant funding to develop commercial products and services using space technology or space-derived data. These 'fast-track projects' applied as part of the 'Space for Growth' competition, and each will last between 6 and 9 months. The projects will carry out research and development in: Satellite Telecommunications; Sensing; Position, Navigation & Timing; Robotics & Exploration and Access to Space.

The NSTP was established to help UK industry exploit growth opportunities in the space sector and improve domestic space technology capabilities. In addition to the UK Space Agency's contribution, funding has been provided by the Technology Strategy Board and the South East England Development Agency. Additional matched funding from the businesses involved brings the total value of research and development to nearly 5 million pounds.

Dr David Williams, Chief Executive of the UK Space Agency: "The UK space industry is one of the fastest growing sectors in the country, contributing #7.5bn annually to the UK economy. The National Space Technology Programme will help us further this success by providing an opportunity for promising UK space technologies and applications to be developed to meet their full commercial potential and for businesses to explore collaborations with other sectors to establish services in new markets."

The organisations (PDF, 124 Kb) leading the collaborative projects are: ABSL Power Solutions Ltd (2 projects), Advanced Composites Group Ltd, AMPAC ISP UK Westcott Ltd, Astrium Ltd (3 projects), CBIL, Clyde Space Ltd, e2v technologies (UK) Ltd, EADS-UK, Exemplar Associates Ltd, Logica (2 projects), M Squared Lasers, Magellium Ltd, Mars Space Ltd, National Physical Laboratory (2 projects), Nottingham Scientific Ltd, QinetiQ, Reaction Engines Ltd, SSBV Space and Ground Systems Ltd, Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (2 projects), VEGA Space Ltd, VIPER RF Ltd (2 projects) and Zettlex UK Ltd.

Find out more about the NSTP and the progress of other funding opportunities.

Source:  UK Space Agency