Catapult extends UK Centres of Excellence network
Marketing
The Satellite Applications Catapult is delighted to be adding two more Centres of Excellence in satellite applications to its network, as it continues to broaden its regional engagement and support the sector’s growth in the UK.
These new Centres, which are co-funded by the UK Space Agency, are in response to the growing interest in how satellite data and technologies are helping businesses generate new ideas and solutions to grow.
The new Centres are being established to support the South West and South Coast of England and will join our established network of regional engagement initiatives and extend our reach beyond the East Midlands, Central Scotland and North East England.
Announcing the new Centres, Stuart Martin, CEO of the Satellite Applications Catapult, said: “We’ve witnessed a significant upturn in regional engagement over the past two years through the initial three Centres. This has included activities linking up the science base, large industry and SMEs to help develop satellite-derived applications and solutions.
“The network’s expansion to cover the southern region of the UK will hopefully result in generating further understanding and awareness of the opportunities that satellite data and technology can provide – especially among market sectors not currently engaging with them – and developing new commercial opportunities for the UK’s Space sector.”
Universities and Science Minister Jo Johnson said: “The Government is backing the UK’s successful space sector and ensuring more businesses can benefit from space technology through the Satellite Applications Catapult. These new and extended centres will deliver more support to businesses and scientists across the country, and help the space industry reach its ambition to grow to £40bn by 2030 and generate 100,000 new jobs.”
Colin Baldwin, UK Space Gateway Programme Manager at the UK Space Agency noted: “The UK Space Agency is delighted to support this initiative. The expanded network of Catapult Centres of Excellence demonstrates that applications of satellites provide business opportunities across the length and breadth of the United Kingdom.”
The South West centre’s partners include: University of Exeter, Plymouth University, Falmouth University, Met Office, Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Goonhilly Earth Station and Rothamsted Research. Its market focus areas cover Agritech, Maritime and eHealth.
The South Coast centre’s partners include: University of Portsmouth, University of Brighton, University of Southampton, National Oceanography Centre, Marine South East, Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult and Hampshire County Council. Its market focus areas cover Maritime and Marine and Autonomous Systems.
