In an industry which generates over £17.5 billion — outpacing the wider economy growth by 5% year on year — the UK Space Sector is critical to advancing the economy, and propelling net zero efforts. As we enter World Space Week 2024 (WSW) to celebrate the critical alliance of space technology and climate science, we’re taking a look at how Cornwall Space Cluster (CSC) is supporting climate initiatives in the UK, and across the globe. This is Part 1 of a 2 Part deep dive.
Who are we? As experts in space, aerospace and data, Cornwall is fast becoming a world-leading technology destination for businesses, offering the assets and infrastructure needed to build on concepts that will make the future more sustainable.
Alongside the Satellite Applications Catapult and the UK Space Agency, we’re part of the wider UK Space Ecosystem which brings together a network of clusters to help businesses turn great ideas into commercial space technology. Our job at CSC is to offer financial support and facilitate collaboration between businesses and academic partners across the clusters. With our dedicated cluster lead, Gail Eastaugh, who acts as the first point of contact for our community, we help smaller businesses to promote their capabilities as a collective and support collaboration both vertically and horizontally to give them a strong space identity.
“Our members tell us the thing they value most is networking with others in the region and across the UK, which helps them find contracts, partners and investors. We help them to overcome barriers to entry so that they can startup a business or pivot in the space and aerospace sector, by supporting them to secure public and private finance and by showcasing their capabilities, nationally and internationally.” – Gail Eastaugh, Cornwall Space Cluster lead.
So far, the cluster model has worked extremely well in Cornwall — so much so that we now sit on the UK Regional Clusters Advisory Board (RCAB) working with the Department for Science, Technology & Innovation (DSIT), Department for Business and Trade (DBT), Satellite Applications Catapult and the UK Space Agency to grow the value of the space sector.
The Satellite Applications Catapult has been working collaboratively with partners across the UK to grow the economy powered by space tech and satellite data for over ten years. With a place-based and capability led strategy, we’ve received incredible support from the catapult, including funding, expert advice and ongoing guidance.
“We work in partnership with the UK Space Agency and many collaborators as part of a vision to support the development of a thriving and connected UK Space Ecosystem. Specific support to the Cornwall Space Cluster has included: investing in a Space Enterprise Lad (SEL) at Space Cornwall and delivering an Earth Observation workshop for public sector stakeholders to raise awareness and encourage the adoption of space data in public use cases. We’ve also provided ongoing support to the cluster Steering Group as well as more bespoke advice and guidance on strategy and governance to support the cluster’s local economic development strategy. Finally we’ve co-funded three Connected Capability Networks of which Cornwall is a partner to help connect up the ecosystem’s capabilities no matter where in the UK they’re based.” – Simone Hartless, Head of Cluster Growth at the Satellite Applications Catapult.
This year’s WSW theme is all about collaboration for a sustainable tomorrow and joining forces for change — a notion that underpins our activities at CSC and the rest of the UK Space Ecosystem. WSW 2024 “stands as a connecting platform for global collaboration, uniting experts, students, and enthusiasts from diverse fields to discuss and craft strategies utilising space technology for ecological sustainability and resilience against climate change.” Which is exactly what we’re doing, alongside other regional space clusters.
For example, Northern Ireland Space Office lead Robert Hill describes his cluster’s role within the network as facilitator for cross collaboration. The NI cluster acts as a point of contact for the whole ecosystem, not just their individual region, supporting the National Space Strategy and working with the UK Space Agency and DSIT to provide data and input to future national programs and activities. Their relationship with our cluster in Cornwall is designed to promote “collaboration and public sector knowledge exchange to avoid duplication of effort and support, alongside facilitating the acceleration of potential satellite applications and services.”
Some of the key initiatives they’re working on that align with this year’s WSW theme, including; NI Earth Observation Portal and Steering Group, Harbour and Port Decarbonisation, Harmful Algal Blooms (HAB) with Space Wales and Space East, discussions with the Department for Economy in NI to realise the minister’s decarbonisation strategy, as well as hosting the ‘Space & Climate’ national event in Belfast.
Over in Space East, cluster manager Stuart Catchpole highlights their mission to “raise awareness of our capabilities in the East of England and look to provide cluster opportunities for businesses and the clusters themselves.” With downstream strengths through their heritage sectors of agriculture, energy and marine, and upstream capabilities through the Primes in Hertfordshire & Bedfordshire, Space East aims to combine cluster strengths to nurture clean growth and sustainability.
We regularly collaborate with Space East through the UK Space Ecosystem brand, taking part in engagement and knowledge sharing activities, and through x-cluster partnerships like the Connected Capability Networks (CCNs). Both of their x-cluster projects are linked to the environment and climate change; HABs with Northern Ireland and broader agriculture with Scotland. They’re also doing some great work with Space4Climate, co-hosting an event as a ‘way in’ for stakeholders to understand the role and value of space technology in the challenges of climate change.
Expansive, innovative and interconnected; the UK’s space clusters are leading the way to a more sustainable economy, financially and environmentally. Supported by investments from public and private entities, we’re proud to be part of an ecosystem that is working hard to drive change across the world. That change starts on home soil — by nurturing cross-collaboration between the great innovators, academics, businesses and facilitators this country has to offer. The future of climate change and advancing growth in the UK is in our hands, and space has a critical role to play.
