Business support agency reaches for the stars
A business support agency in Durham has underlined its role in the satellite industry.
Business Durham – the economic development arm of Durham County Council – has been appointed to lead the North East Satellite Applications Centre of Excellence.
The Satellite Applications Catapult and the UK Space Agency, which funds the centre, has confirmed Business Durham, will lead the North East consortium.
One of the three centres of excellence in the UK, the centre, is based at the North East Technology Park (NETPark) in Sedgefield.
Business Durham has led the North East Satellite Applications Centre of Excellence since April 2014 engaging with over 670 organisations, seeding 277 links between business and universities and helping companies secure £9.2m worth of funding.
Sarah Slaven, interim managing director of Business Durham, said: “Over the past six years the North East Satellite Applications Centre of Excellence has become a focal point of activities for space and satellite technologies within the region.
“We are excited to build on that momentum. Over the next two years we will focus on the continuing growth of the space sector and raising the profile of the North East within the wider space network, nationally and beyond.”
Catherine Mealing-Jones, director of growth at the UK
Space Agency, said: “The North East Satellite Applications Centre is at the heart of efforts to grow the space economy in the region.
“The work of the centre has been instrumental in championing the regional space sector and forging new partnerships with space and non-space companies, contributing to jobs and growth.”