UCL joins Space South Central cluster

University College London (UCL) has joined the UK’s largest regional space cluster, Space South Central, as an academic partner.

Space South Central connects business and academia to encourage innovation, collaboration and growth across the thriving space sector in Hampshire, Surrey and the Isle of Wight.

The region boasts a £3 billion industry, comprising more than 170 space-related organisations and employing around 14,000 people.

UCL’s location will strengthen ties between London’s business and academic networks and key space industry sector partners in the south of England.

Space South Central’s work to promote the cluster’s space capabilities overseas will also benefit from UCL’s international profile, building on the region’s annual £1.64 billion of export revenue and £65 million in foreign investment.

Home to the Mullard Space Science Laboratory (MSSL) in Surreyand the UK’s largest university space research group, UCL has played a key role in space research and technology for more than 50 years.

Since 1966, it’s participated in more than 35 satellite missions and over 200 rocket experiments.

Dr Louise Butt, director of the Space South Central Enterprise Network, said: “We’re delighted that UCL has chosen to partner with Space South Central to support, enhance and benefit from our cluster initiatives.

“UCL brings a wealth of complementary expertise to our cluster, with a rich space heritage and a vast portfolio spanning planetary science, space policy, climate physics, astrochemistry, quantum science and much more.

“To have four world-class academic partners working together with our unrivalled range of up-stream and down-stream businesses – large and small – presents many exciting opportunities for the sector in Hampshire, Surrey and the Isle of Wight, and for the wider UK space industry.”

Professor Geraint Rees, UCL vice-provost for research, innovation and global engagement, said: “I’m delighted that UCL is joining the largest regional space cluster in the UK.

“Collaboration with both industry and academic peers has been a defining feature of UCL’s space activity for over 60 years – stretching back to the multinational Ariel 1 satellite, Britain’s first step into space. 

“It’s fitting to see this legacy of successful industry academic partnership continue with Space South Central and I look forward to seeing the synergies that arise.”

Professor Andrew Fazakerley, professor of space plasma physics and head of UCL’s Department of Space and Climate Physics, is also on the steering committee of the UCL Space Domain, an interdisciplinary community that addresses both the technological challenges of space exploration and its broader societal impacts. 

He added: “Joining Space South Central will bring significant and tangible benefits to our growing community of researchers involved in space research.

“It will mean greater opportunities for collaboration with both academic peers and industry partners, helping us to ensure that innovative ideas and research breakthroughs achieve their full potential.”