The UK Space Agency has announced the launch of its new headquarters in Oxfordshire and regional offices in Scotland, Wales and the Midlands.
The headquarters for the state-owned executive agency will open in the Harwell Science Campus’ Space Cluster in Oxfordshire.
The British space sector has been growing rapidly, with the agency estimating its value at over £17.5bn per year.
The Harwell Campus HQ, set to open in June, will support research in the industry, looking at areas such as Earth observation and satellite broadband.
The agency said it would also support the government’s ambition to lead in space tech markets such as in-orbit spacecraft services and space debris removal.
“This is a transformational moment for the UK Space Agency, responding directly to the feedback that the Agency should be embedded in the sector,” said Dr Paul Bate, CEO of the UK Space Agency.
“This will place the UK Space Agency at the heart of the space sector we serve, boosting growth, improving relationships with regional organisations and supporting a strong, diverse and connected sector.”
UK Science Minister Andrew Griffith added that the new regional offices in Edinburgh, Cardiff and Leicester will “serve the talented space researchers and innovators around the country while creating more jobs, growing our local economies and strengthening the UK’s science superpower ambitions”.
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