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.
A new incubation programme
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.
Facilities and resources
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.
Opportunities for innovative products
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.
Creating new jobs
“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.”
For more information about the Space TEC programme in Nottingham or to find out about accommodation options in the Technology Entrepreneurship Centre, email Mark Tock at mark.tock@nottingham.ac.uk or tel: 0115 748 4608.
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Notes to editors: The University of Nottingham has 43,000 students and is ‘the nearest Britain has to a truly global university, with a “distinct” approach to internationalisation, which rests on those full-scale campuses in China and Malaysia, as well as a large presence in its home city.’ (Times Good University Guide 2016). It is also one of the most popular universities in the UK among graduate employers and the winner of ‘Outstanding Support for Early Career Researchers’ at the Times Higher Education Awards 2015. It is ranked in the world’s top 75 by the QS World University Rankings 2015/16, and 8th in the UK by research power according to the Research Excellence Framework 2014. It has been voted the world’s greenest campus for three years running, according to Greenmetrics Ranking of World Universities.
Impact: The Nottingham Campaign, its biggest-ever fundraising campaign, is delivering the University’s vision to change lives, tackle global issues and shape the future. More news…
About the UK Space Agency
The UK Space Agency is at the heart of UK efforts to explore and benefit from space. It is responsible for all strategic decisions on the UK civil space programme and provides a clear, single voice for UK space ambitions. The Agency is responsible for ensuring that the UK retains and grows a strategic capability in the space-based systems, technologies, science and applications. It leads the UK’s civil space programme in order to win sustainable economic growth, secure new scientific knowledge and provide benefits to all citizens.
The UK Space Agency:
- Co-ordinates UK civil space activity
- Encourages academic research
- Supports the UK space industry
- Raises the profile of UK space activities at home and abroad
- Increases understanding of space science and its practical benefits
- Inspires the next generation of UK scientists and engineers
- Licences the launch and operation of UK spacecraft
- Promotes co-operation and participation in the European Space programme