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22/07/2009
European Space Agency Touches Down In UK
In a remarkable first for the UK, the European Space Agency (ESA) will touch down in Britain this week, heralding the start of a new space age and thrusting the sector forward for the next 40 years and beyond.
Today ESA will arrive in Harwell, Oxfordshire where it will open its first facility in the UK, following successful negotiations between the Agency, the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills and the British National Space Centre.
The ESA facility at Harwell is expected to be a key element of a much-wider vision for the future of the UK's fast-growing space economy which will see the creation of an International Space Innovation Centre (ISIC) at Harwell, where state-of-the-art publicly-funded scientific facilities will operate alongside industrial R&D. ISIC will bring together academia and industry dedicated to the innovation of space science, research and technology.
Lord Drayson, the Minister for Science and Innovation, said: "Today's announcement recognises our world-class strengths in robotics, climate change and innovative space technology, and re-affirms Britain's place as one of the leaders in European space research and technology. By establishing a European Space Agency (ESA) research and development operation in the UK we can guarantee that the economy and the public benefit from space technologies.
"Every day we use space technology without realising it: improved weather forecasts, global telecommunications and vital medical technologies have all flowed from UK investment in space technology. Moreover, space is absolutely vital for tackling climate change and handling natural disasters at home and abroad.
"Britain is currently undergoing a space renaissance. This week's announcements combined with the launch of the Space Innovation and Growth team last month will build on this to strengthen our outstandingly successful space programme and take UK space into a new age."
The arrival of ESA in Harwell further strengthens the country's expertise in this fast growing sector.
The entire UK space sector currently contributes £6.5 billion to the UK economy, supporting around 68,000 direct and indirect jobs. The recession busting trends of the space industry has enabled it to successfully ride the downturn, and it is also predicted to grow by an average of 5% per year until 2020.
The Government has announced its determination to help the UK maximise its world-leading strengths in the space sector. It recently uncovered the Space Innovation and Growth Team which offers a huge opportunity for the UK government to work alongside industry to define a clear plan - a 20 year vision - and come up with a strategy for growth and employment.
(JM/BMcC)
Today ESA will arrive in Harwell, Oxfordshire where it will open its first facility in the UK, following successful negotiations between the Agency, the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills and the British National Space Centre.
The ESA facility at Harwell is expected to be a key element of a much-wider vision for the future of the UK's fast-growing space economy which will see the creation of an International Space Innovation Centre (ISIC) at Harwell, where state-of-the-art publicly-funded scientific facilities will operate alongside industrial R&D. ISIC will bring together academia and industry dedicated to the innovation of space science, research and technology.
Lord Drayson, the Minister for Science and Innovation, said: "Today's announcement recognises our world-class strengths in robotics, climate change and innovative space technology, and re-affirms Britain's place as one of the leaders in European space research and technology. By establishing a European Space Agency (ESA) research and development operation in the UK we can guarantee that the economy and the public benefit from space technologies.
"Every day we use space technology without realising it: improved weather forecasts, global telecommunications and vital medical technologies have all flowed from UK investment in space technology. Moreover, space is absolutely vital for tackling climate change and handling natural disasters at home and abroad.
"Britain is currently undergoing a space renaissance. This week's announcements combined with the launch of the Space Innovation and Growth team last month will build on this to strengthen our outstandingly successful space programme and take UK space into a new age."
The arrival of ESA in Harwell further strengthens the country's expertise in this fast growing sector.
The entire UK space sector currently contributes £6.5 billion to the UK economy, supporting around 68,000 direct and indirect jobs. The recession busting trends of the space industry has enabled it to successfully ride the downturn, and it is also predicted to grow by an average of 5% per year until 2020.
The Government has announced its determination to help the UK maximise its world-leading strengths in the space sector. It recently uncovered the Space Innovation and Growth Team which offers a huge opportunity for the UK government to work alongside industry to define a clear plan - a 20 year vision - and come up with a strategy for growth and employment.
(JM/BMcC)
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