Surrey Space Industry Gets Boost from UK Space Agency

Published on: 25 Feb, 2023
Updated on: 16 Mar, 2023

Surrey Space Centre on the University of Surrey campus.

Space scientists and engineers at the University of Surrey have won £400k from the UK Space Agency for training, recruiting dedicated space engineers and providing technical facilities for enterprises to develop and trial space-related technology.

A spokesperson for the University of Surrey said the funding would “help boost the space industry in Surrey and Hampshire, already a leading centre for space-related business with an income of over £3bn from space industries”.

The project will be carried out by SpaceCraft, based at the renowned Surrey Space Centre, and will upgrade the centre’s high quality space engineering facilities and offer access to businesses and colleges.

Professor Keith Ryden heads up the Surrey Space Centre at the University of Surrey.

Prof Keith Ryden, professor in space engineering and head of Surrey Space Centre at the University of Surrey, said: “The local space industry is strong, which means it’s always hungry for skilled space technicians and engineers.

“SpaceCraft will help meet these needs, even beyond the graduates and post-grads from space-related areas at Surrey.

“It will also mean we can open the doors to improved facilities for companies who otherwise struggle to find the specialised maker-spaces and expert engineers they need to develop new products for the space sector.”

The live satellite control room at the Surrey Space Centre.

Dr Paul Bate, chief executive of the UK Space Agency, said: “Establishing a network of space clusters and high impact projects will accelerate the development of the thriving space ecosystem the UK needs to realise the full economic potential of space across the UK.”

Surrey Space Centre is the largest regional space cluster in the UK, encompassing more than 120 organisations and with a collective income of more than £3bn.