Science minister Nusrat Ghani has announced that £15 million of funding will be provided by the UK Space Agency for businesses to develop new satellite communications technologies.
Up to Spring 2023, any organisations looking to develop ambitious technologies across the satellite communications ecosystem will be eligible to apply for funding.
The UK Space Agency says that the funding round will prioritise customer needs, support sustainable growth and catalyse further investment into the UK space sector, which already employs some 47,000 people.
The UK Space Agency is heavily involved in the European Space Agency’s Advanced Research in Telecommunications Services [ARTES] programme. Ghani’s announcement comes as she is due to travel to Italy to meet with the European Space Agency’s director-general, Josef Aschbacher.
The meeting also comes ahead of a convening of the European Space Agency’s Council of Ministers scheduled for November, which will see the UK and other member countries discuss and negotiate their future contributions to priority projects.
Ghani said: “I am proud to be representing the UK space sector as we discuss our ambitions ahead of the ESA Council of Ministers next month. There are a series of important programmes on the table, and I want to harness opportunities in space to grow the UK economy, create jobs and inspire young people into STEM careers.
“We’re also making new funding available now to strengthen the UK’s position as a world leader in the satellite communications market, and I look forward to seeing the results of the competition.”
A recent report titled ‘The Impact Evaluation of UK Investment in the European Space Agency’ suggests that the UK economy generates £11.80 for every pound invested in the European Space Agency.
The study adds the UK takes pride of place alongside the US and Germany in the top three nations in the world in terms of scientific output.
Back in 2019, the UK committed an investment of £374 million per year for five years into the European Space Agency, with the report showing the impact of that investment over the years 2020 and 2021.
UK Space Agency CEO, Dr Paul Bate, comments: “Our European Space Agency membership delivers huge advantages to the UK, by catalysing investment into the sector, backing innovative companies, and providing access to new missions and capabilities such as the James Webb Space Telescope.
“As a founding member of the European Space Agency UK space organisations benefit from access to world-class facilities in the UK and Europe, the expertise of the Europea Space Agency’s 3,000 staff, and close links to the wider international space community, including other space agencies like NASA.
“This new report demonstrates how our participation in the European Space Agency translates into real results for the UK economy and continues to play an important role in meeting our national space ambitions.”
UK involvement in the ARTES programme is expected to deliver a 20:1 return on investment according to the UK Space Agency. As part of it, UK-based Airbus will develop new geostationary satellites that will be launched into space to provide better broadcast, internet and communications services globally.
