International satellite technology company SatixFy (www.satixfy.com) has gone from strength to strength since opening a base in the UK in 2016, followed by its new development centre in Manchester.

The firm was originally established in Hong Kong and opened its first design centre in Israel in 2012 , before setting up a UK operation in August 2016 with the support of the UK Space Agency, Innovate UK and the Department for International Trade.

It now has 77 full-time employees in Manchester and Farnborough (out of 150 world-wide) and has attracted a further $20 million of investment.

The company’s new development centre in Manchester designs space-hardened silicon chips for satellite payloads. It has also developed flat antennas that could have applications in the Internet of Things market (by connecting vehicles to the Internet) and in user terminals for the upcoming Low Earth Orbit satellite constellations.

Graham Stuart, minister for investment at the Department for International Trade, said: “We are delighted with the success that SatixFy has enjoyed since opening its UK operations. It is a ringing endorsement for the compelling offer the UK presents to innovative, ambitious companies seeking to grow and compete successfully in the booming global space market.”

Graham Turnock, chief executive of the UK Space Agency, said: “SatixFy UK is an excellent example of how we can bring investment to the UK, attract new engineers to work in the space sector and support innovative space companies to become really successful here, while driving significant export opportunities.”

SatixFy UK has received a commitment for funding worth more than 30 million euros from the European Space Agency for several projects in its Advanced Research in Telecommunications Satellites programme.

The company has also formed a joint venture with Singapore Technologies Engineering to develop antennas for the in-flight connectivity market.