University of Nottingham Innovation Park and UK Space Agency combine

Small businesses developing products and services for the space sector will be able to take advantage of a new incubation programme being run at the University of Nottingham Innovation Park (UNIP).

The Space Technology Entrepreneurship (Space TEC) programme at Nottingham will utilise the University’s expertise in key technologies and enterprise education, and will also link with its international campuses.

The Space TEC programme is being funded through the UK Space Agency’s Business Incubation Programme. The aim of the programme is to support start-up companies across the breadth of the space sector and grow space in the region by providing a supportive business environment to assist entrepreneurs to develop small companies - an important path in realising the space sector’s ambition to achieve a 10 per cent share of the global space market by 2030.

The funded programme will provide small businesses with access to facilities and resources and will collaborate on events and initiatives with other linked business incubators.

The Space TEC programme at UNIP will provide businesses with the opportunity to access a range of key technological expertise at The University of Nottingham, including downstream applications of geospatial engineering, aerospace, energy, digital and advanced manufacturing technologies.

Businesses involved in the incubator pilot at the University will benefit from intensive on-campus support delivered by Nottingham University Business School. In addition, they will receive technical training from experts within the University’s world-leading satellite applications centres of excellence.

Colin Baldwin, UK Space Gateway Programme Manager at the UK Space Agency, said: “Within the East Midlands there are opportunities for a range of companies developing innovative products that can match the needs of the space industry, building upon existing strengths in space hardware, Earth observation and global navigation systems.

“We’re committed to nurturing business and research in these regions, and showing small businesses how they can benefit from our £11.8 billion space industry.”

Mark Tock, Director of the University of Nottingham Innovation Park, said: “It is fantastic news that UNIP is part of this exciting UK Space Agency incubation initiative, and very timely with the forthcoming opening of our new Technology Entrepreneurship Centre.

“The University of Nottingham has a tremendous range of expertise and facilities which will be of great benefit to businesses looking to gain a foothold in the space sector. Our initial aim is to support a minimum of eight start-ups or SMEs in this sector by the end of the year, and we hope that with our support they will grow to their potential, creating new jobs over the coming years.”