< Return to Cluster Directory

1_NW_Space_Cluster_Logo-01

North West Space Cluster

Overview

Convening the cross-sector capabilities of Greater Manchester, the Liverpool City Region, Cheshire, Cumbria, and Lancashire, this Cluster of over 250 organisations builds upon an established space sector, including the European Space Tribology Laboratory, the ESA Business Incubation Centre, and the global HQ of the Square Kilometre Array Observatory (SKAO), to support the development of the UK as a leading space superpower.

Home to the largest defence manufacturing ecosystem in the UK, the North West of England is also home of the National Cyber Force, a significant GCHQ presence, and the nation’s most powerful industry accessible supercomputer, located at the Hartree Centre. In addition, as the birthplace of Graphene, the region boasts world class expertise in Materials science and innovation and has unique capabilities in nuclear materials for deep space applications.

Join the North West Space Cluster Group on the Space Enterprise Community platform here.

Key Contacts

Alan Cross

Organisation: Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC)
Role: Space Cluster Development Manager

Philip Carvil

Organisation: Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC)
Role: Head of Northern Clusters

Facilities & Assets

  • Sci-Tech Daresbury

  • Sci-Tech Daresbury is a science and innovation campus located in the Liverpool City Region that provides state-of-the-art facilities and expertise for research and development in a range of fields, including science, engineering, and technology. Facilities include:

    • The Hartree Centre provides advanced computing capabilities and expertise for research and development in a range of fields, including data science, artificial intelligence, and high-performance computing.
    • Space Enterprise Lab Daresbury
    • The ESA Business Incubation Centre (BIC) supports startups and entrepreneurs in developing innovative products and services using space technologies and applications.
    Find out more
  • ElecTech Innovation Cluster (ETIC)

  • The ElecTech Innovation Cluster (ETIC) is a business incubator and innovation centre located in Morecombe Bay, straddling the Lancashire/Cumbria border, that provides state-of-the-art facilities and expertise for the development and commercialisation of electronics and semiconductors technologies.

    Find out more
  • European Space Tribology Laboratory

  • The European Space Tribology Laboratory is a research facility located in Warrington, Cheshire, that provides expertise in tribology, the study of friction and wear.

    Find out more
  • PuMA2

  • PuMA2, located at Sellafield in Cumbria and operated by the National Nuclear Laboratory, is the UKs only facility for extracting nuclear materials for use in Radioisotope Power Systems for deep space applications

    Find out more
  • Astrophysics Facilities

  • Jodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics (University of Manchester)

    Jodrell Bank is a world leader in radio astronomy-related research and technology development. Operating e-MERLIN, the UK’s national radio astronomy facility, and carrying out research across the electromagnetic spectrum and in theoretical topics: https://www.jodrellbank.manchester.ac.uk/about/

    Astrophysics Research Institute (Liverpool John Moores University)

    Operator of the world’s largest robotic telescope at La Palma, and home of the National Schools Observatory; a world leading centre of excellence in astrophysics, spanning research and knowledge exchange, teaching and learning, outreach, and public engagement: https://www.ljmu.ac.uk/research/centres-and-institutes/astrophysics-research-institute/about-the-centre

    Jermiah Horrocks Institute (University of Central Lancashire)

    Research institute, conducting research into astronomy, astrophysics, and space science, hosting the Solar Dynamics Observatory, and partner of the Southern African Large Telescope, and the National Cosmology Supercomputer: https://www.star.uclan.ac.uk/

    Find out more
  • RAF Spadeadam

  • RAF Spadeadam is the historic home of Britain’s launch vehicle testing programme, with both the Blue Streak and Europa vehicles undergoing fully integrated, vertical test firings onsite. Today, alongside the historic vehicle testing infrastructure, Spadeadam is Europe’s only Electronic Warfare Tactics Range.

    Find out more

Partners & Academic Institutions

  • UKRI-STFC

  • The Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) is a main delivery partner for the North West space cluster, providing expertise and support for businesses and organisations in the sector.

    Find out more
  • Jacobs

  • A global engineering, architecture, and consulting firm that has a significant presence in the North West of England, providing expertise in a range of sectors, including aerospace, defence, and energy.

    Find out more
  • Northern Space Consortium

  • A membership organisation that represents and supports businesses and organisations in the space sector in the North of England, providing opportunities for collaboration and business growth.

    Find out more
  • North West Aerospace Alliance

  • One of the largest aerospace ecosystems in Europe, contributing over £7 billion to the UK economy, accounting for one quarter of the UK aerospace turnover.

    Find out more
  • Square Kilometre Array Observatory (SKAO)

  • Location: Cheshire

    Designing, building, and operating SKAO, the largest scientific instrument in Human history; a next-generation radio astronomy-driven Big Data facility being built across South Africa and Western Australia that will revolutionise our understanding of the Universe and the laws of fundamental physics. Enabled by cutting-edge technology, it promises to have a major impact on society, in science and beyond.

    Find out more
  • Hartree Centre (UKRI-STFC)

  • The Hartree Centre is home to the UKs most powerful supercomputer accessible to industry. The Hartree Centre facilitates access to high-performance computing (HPC) and data-centric technologies for businesses and researchers to advance digital innovation across a range of sectors including aerospace.

    Find out more
  • Lancaster University

  • The university conducts research in remote sensing and earth observation.

  • Centre for Ecology & Hydrology: Conducts research on the impact of environmental change on ecosystems and provides scientific advice on environmental policy and management.
  • Find out more
  • University of Central Lancashire (UCLan)

  • UCLan Space: Conducts research in space science and technology, offers courses in space studies, and operates the Jeremiah Horrocks Institute and Jost Institute for Tribotechnology.

    Find out more
  • University of Manchester

  • The university conducts research in a wide range of areas relevant to the space sector, from materials science and nuclear technology to space systems engineering and graphene.

  • ROAR facility (Space Systems Engineering): Provides a testbed for space technology and systems engineering research and development.
  • National Graphene Institute: Conducts research on graphene and 2D materials with potential applications in space technology.
  • Graphene Engineering Innovation Centre: Collaborates with businesses to accelerate the commercialization of graphene and 2D materials.
  • Henry Royce Institute: Provides facilities and expertise in materials science relevant to the development of space technology.
  • Dalton Nuclear Institute: Conducts research in nuclear technology relevant to space applications.
  • Find out more

Key Activities and Projects

  • UK Autonomous and Connected Earth Network (UK-ACE network)

  • North West Space Cluster is part of a consortium of partners led by Harwell Space Cluster hosting the Satellite Applications Catapult’s a pilot Connected Capabilities Network: the Autonomous and Connected Earth Network (UK-ACE network) will advance the reach and impact of satellite data and space technology across the UK, emphasising the pivotal roles connectivity and autonomy applications play on Earth. The UK-ACE network will work with stakeholders across space and adjacent sectors by hosting engagement events and activities to help catalyse collaboration and investment opportunities using autonomy and connectivity technologies.

    Find out more
  • Power4Space

  • Strengthening ties between the North West Space Cluster and Midlands Space Cluster, this UK Space Agency funded project brings together the clusters and their respective supply chains, to seize commercial opportunities in novel power systems for deep space applications.

    Find out more

Technical Focus

(Where 0 is no focus/experience and 3 is flagship focus/established experience)

Market Focus

(Where 0 is no focus/experience and 3 is flagship focus/established experience)