US-based Gore — a technology, materials and medical manufacturing company — recently unveiled its first space facility outside the USA.

The launch of the Gore Space Centre of Excellence at Dundee Technology Park was timed to coincide with the 50th-anniversary celebration of the firm’s involvement with the Apollo 11 moon landing in 1969.

Jason Field, chief executive of WL Gore & Associates, said: “While we are trying to concentrate much of our manufacturing capability here in the Dundee Technology Park, we do have engineers in the field internationally that will collaborate with the Centre of Excellence and connect back into the customer, so we have strong linkage
between technology and application.

“We are really excited about the focus here and the opportunity to co-develop with Scotland in terms of making an impact in space.”

Ivan McKee, Scottish Innovation Minister said: “Scotland already has a great reputation in the space sector.

“We manufacture more small satellites than anywhere else in Europe, and almost a fifth of jobs in the sector are based here.

“I’m delighted that a hugely successful global company like Gore has chosen Scotland as the base for its space sector activities.”