The University of Exeter has been selected for the new national SPRINT Associate Membership programme.

It will join seven other Associate Members and five existing university partners to drive innovation within the UK space sector.

The University of Exeter has been selected as one of eight UK universities to join the national SPRINT business support programme’s new Associate Membership initiative.

SPRINT (SPace Research and Innovation Network for Technology) provides unprecedented access to university space expertise and facilities to help businesses through the commercial development of space data and technologies. The new Associate Membership programme aims to broaden the provision of space-related knowledge exchange across the UK.

Joining the University of Exeter will be City, University of London; Durham University; Kingston University; University of Bristol; University of Glasgow; University of Leeds and University of Strathclyde. All new Associate Members will join founding members of SPRINT – the University of Leicester, the University of Edinburgh, The Open University, University of Southampton and University of Surrey.

Conrad Gillespie, Centre Manager at the Centre says,

“This is fantastic news for the University of Exeter and the South West Centre of Excellence in Satellite Applications. As a SPRINT associate member we will be able to support even more start-ups and established businesses in the region. This enhances our ability to support their access to new research, advice and funding opportunities to exploit space technologies and data in a wide range of commercial activities.”

Ann Swift, National Innovation Manager for SPRINT  added:

“The success of SPRINT is built on collaborative partnerships between businesses and academic experts from the programme’s higher education institutions. We are delighted to announce that the University of Exeter has been selected for the Associate Membership initiative. Their involvement will undoubtedly help to extend the research, data and technology capabilities that we can offer to businesses across the UK.”

Furthermore Conrad Gillespie,  says it is great for the University of Exeter too:

“SPRINT also offers workshops and advice to support academics and entrepreneurial researchers at universities in areas such as research commercialisation so associate membership is a superb attribute for the University of Exeter too.

We’d love to connect with more businesses looking to develop in the space sector so email us at spacetech@exeter.ac.uk and we’ll get your space journey started.”

About SWCoESA:

The ‘South West Centre of Excellence in Satellite Applications’ (SWCoESA) is part of the national Space ecosystem established by the Satellite Applications Catapult & UK Space Agency. We help to grow the South West Space Cluster, by supporting innovators and researchers to develop and commercialise space technologies and satellite applications (including Earth Observation, Satellite Communications & Navigation). The Centre partnership includes the Universities of Exeter (lead), Plymouth and Falmouth and our coverage includes Cornwall, Devon & Somerset. Our key focus areas are health & wellbeing, marine & maritime, mining and natural capital. Key offerings include co-ordinating funding opportunities, fostering project consortia, technical specialists, and a range of business incubation and support programmes.

About SPRINT:

SPRINT is supported by Research England, the Scottish Funding Council and the UK Space Agency. It is being delivered by a consortium of five of the UK’s leading space universities, led by the University of Leicester and including the University of Edinburgh, The Open University, University of Southampton and University of Surrey, in addition to the new Associate Members.

www.sprint.ac.uk

For further media information, please contact:

Simon Gribbon (on behalf of SPRINT)

T: 07990 583371

E: simon@sandstarcomms.com