A group of universities has been awarded the fund from Research England to research and innovate the UK space聽industry.
The Universities of Leicester, Southampton, Surrey, Edinburgh and the Open University, which together form the Space Research and Innovation Network for Technology (SPRINT), have received 拢4.8 million in a Connecting Capability Fund (CCF) grant.
The grant will support small and medium-sized businesses to engage with the universities, providing them with access to university expertise and facilities.
鈥淭hese projects demonstrate the commitment of universities to work together to strengthen the R&D and technological capabilities of the UK, building upon our successful Higher Education Innovation Fund (HEIF),鈥� said David Sweeney, Executive Chair of Research England.
鈥淚n the Industrial Strategy, the Government asked us to improve our ability to turn exciting ideas into commercial products and services. Universities have stepped forward in these projects to show that they can do world class commercialisation, alongside world class science.鈥�
The UK Space Agency is one of the partners involved in SPRINT, along with the Satellite Applications Catapult, Seraphim, SSTL and the Science and Technology Facilities Council.
鈥淥ur growing space sector depends on the success of technology and expertise that comes from the world-class research carried out in the UK,鈥� said Dr Graham Turnock, Chief Executive of the UK Space Agency.
鈥淭he UK Space Agency is working hard to ensure the benefits of space are felt across the whole of the country, as part of the Government鈥檚 Industrial Strategy. The SPRINT programme has our full support 鈥� it will help smaller businesses tap into the world-class knowledge of some of the UK鈥檚 leading universities, giving them a real boost and creating new jobs.鈥�
Research England鈥檚 funding of SPRINT will act as a catalyst to transform the ways that universities and broader partners collaborate and share best practice in how they work with businesses. The programme will boost economic growth, jobs and prosperity across the UK by delivering market-led solutions to the space and space enabled economy.
The SPRINT funding is part of an investment of 拢67 million through Research England鈥檚 Connecting Capability Fund (CCF) in new collaborative projects, between universities and other partners, to drive forward world-class university commercialisation across the country.