Harwell Campus is a focus for the space sector in the UK, aiming to maximise the nation’s success in a rapidly expanding and highly competitive world market. Space is strategically important, with major potential for economic growth, scientific advancement and societal benefits.
The UK has a strategy to quadruple its performance in this sector by 2030, and the development of the space cluster at Harwell Campus is at the heart of these efforts, supported by the UK Space Agency Gateway programme.
The cluster of space activity at Harwell Campus is expanding rapidly. Cluster organisations include:
- RAL Space – STFC
- Satellite Applications Catapult
- European Centre for Satellite Applications and Telecommunications (ECSAT) – European Space Agency (ESA)
- ESA Business Incubator Centre – ESA.
ESA’s Europe-wide Technology Transfer Network is also led from Harwell Campus. This core of organisations is serving as a major attractor for a spectrum of companies from start-ups to large corporates.
Space is an intrinsically multidisciplinary sector, and its economic potential is magnified by the spill-over benefits, which extend to virtually all parts of the economy. It is a good fit within the multidisciplinary ethos of the Harwell Campus Science and Innovation Campus with its range of world-renowned large scientific research facilities.
The Space Cluster at Harwell Campus is an important element of the Oxfordshire Innovation Engine, supporting the role of Oxfordshire as a strong component of the ‘Golden Triangle’ of Thames Valley, Cambridge and London. The cluster works with others in the Oxfordshire region through the Oxfordshire LEP Support for Business Programme to foster innovation and commercialisation across a wide range of sectors.
Support for business
The Space Cluster at Harwell Campus provides consolidated support to all businesses that want to locate on the campus or want to interact closely with the cluster, including:
- access to cutting-edge facilities
- technical support
- support for international trade and partnerships
- business advice
- investment network.
Contact
Barbara Ghinelli, Director Harwell Campus Space Cluster
Telephone: 01235 446124
Email: barbara.ghinelli@stfc.ac.uk
Last updated: 8 April 2022