Science Minister Sam Gyimah says that improved disaster response in Commonwealth states and tropical disease control are among the goals of 10 new projects involving British space organisations, highlighting the fact that the UK Space Agency’s International Partnership Programme is using UK space expertise to deliver “innovative solutions to real-world problems across the globe.
This helps some of the world’s poorest countries, while building effective partnerships that can lead to growth opportunities for British companies.”
The successful projects, worth £38 million in total, are led by a diverse range or organisations — from large companies such as Inmarsat and CGI to start-ups such as Guildford-based Earth-i.
Mr Gyimah said: “The UK’s space sector is going from strength to strength. It pioneers new technology and provides jobs for 40,000 people; moreover, its capabilities are being used to tackle some of the world’s biggest challenges.
"The UK Space Agency’s International Partnership Programme (IPP) will help developing countries to tackle big issues like disaster relief and disease control, while showcasing the services and technology on offer from our leading space businesses.”
The IPP is part of the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy’s (BEIS) Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF) — a £1.5 billion fund from the UK Government that supports cutting-edge research and innovation relating to global issues that affect developing countries.
There are 22 existing projects already delivering benefits, including a partnership between Inmarsat and the Philippine government to reduce the impact of natural disasters using satellite communications.
This was called into action in December and January, when tropical storms killed hundreds of people and displaced tens of thousands more to evacuation centres.
The project used British technology and expertise to help relief workers get information in and out of the disaster zones, greatly increasing the effectiveness of the response effort and helping to save lives, as well as restore critical infrastructure.
All IPP projects are match-funded by consortium members and international partners to ensure maximum value for money.
The UK Space Agency is also funding five Business Applications Ambassadors to work with industry across the UK.
It already supports a network of business incubators, and the new ambassadors will advise on business applications and other opportunities in the UK.