Satellite tech born on Tyneside. Mission control in the heart of Newcastle. Yes, North East England is reaching for the stars, thanks to a new, state-of-the-art £50 million facility.
Set to open in Newcastle next year, the North East Space Skills and Technology Centre (NESST) has been developed by Northumbria University, with investment from the UK Space Agency and the space and satellite division of Lockheed Martin.
NESST will house world-leading space experts and unite industry with academia. It is expected to directly support the creation of over 350 jobs and inject more than £260 million into the North East economy over the next 30 years.
So what’s the story behind NESST? And what will it mean for both the North East and the UK’s space sector?
We caught up with Richard Hopper, Business Growth Manager for Space at Northumbria University, to find out…
Why is NESST such an important development?
NESST is a unique asset. There really isn’t anything quite like it in the UK, and even across Europe there are very few facilities offering the same combination of innovation, skills development and industry collaboration.
From a UK Government perspective, it’s an asset that supports space R&D, innovation and skills in the UK. For Northumbria University, it creates opportunities to drive cutting-edge research and collaboration, and an inspiring home for the next generation of the space sector workforce. And from a business perspective, NESST is designed to help organisations accelerate innovation, speed up R&D activities and access new markets, including international opportunities.
The economic forecasts are impressive, with hundreds of jobs and significant economic value expected to be generated. However, what excites me most is the opportunity for businesses to innovate and develop new products, enter new markets and build the skilled workforce they’ll need for the future.
How significant could NESST be for the wider UK space sector?
The UK space sector is part of a truly global industry and NESST has an important role to play within that landscape.
The North East already has strengths in areas such as communications technologies, energy technologies and advanced manufacturing. These capabilities give businesses genuine opportunities to compete and collaborate in the space sector on a global stage.
At the same time, there is an increasing focus nationally on sovereign capability and national security. UK Government and UK Space Agency strategies both place growing emphasis on strengthening domestic capabilities and supply chains. As a founding member of the UK’s new Defence Universities Alliance, the University – and NESST as part of this – sits within a national network focused on defence-relevant skills and research. NESST will help support the Government and UKSA’s aims by developing skills, fostering innovation and creating opportunities for UK businesses to contribute to future space programmes.
While NESST will undoubtedly benefit North East England, its impact will extend far beyond the region.
Lockheed Martin is a key partner in NESST. How important is that relationship?
It’s been hugely important.
Having Lockheed Martin involved gives businesses access to a globally recognised organisation and its extensive international supply chains. We’ve established a long-term partnership centred around innovation, skills development and STEM outreach.
In addition to Lockheed Martin, the North East is home to a growing number of major players, including Airbus, Leonardo and Telespazio, alongside a vibrant ecosystem of SMEs. Our goal is to support collaboration across the whole sector and to create opportunities in the North East.
How has the UK Space Agency supported the project?
The UK Space Agency has been an excellent partner throughout the development of NESST.
It has helped to shape what the centre looks like, how it’s structured and how it aligns with broader UK space and industrial strategies. The UK Space Agency’s priorities around economic growth and national security closely align with what we’re trying to achieve through NESST.
NESST received the largest award through the UK Space Agency’s first Space Clusters Infrastructure Fund, securing £10 million in support. That demonstrates the confidence that’s been placed in both the project and the region.
Alongside the UK Space Agency, regional partners have also played an essential role. Our local space cluster, Space North East England, the North East Strategic Mayoral Authority and other local stakeholders have been incredibly supportive in helping us develop business cases and secure this funding.
How can businesses get involved with NESST?
The simple answer is: start talking to us now!
Although the building itself won’t officially open until early 2027, businesses can already engage with us on research, innovation and technology development projects.
We have the well-established expertise and capabilities to innovate and develop products and solutions, combined with the ability to test them for space environments, and we can work together to expand or improve the skills of their future workforce too.
There is also the opportunity to collaborate and bid for funding to develop technologies. Northumbria University is leading on the North East Space Communications Accelerator (NESCA), alongside our partners at Durham and Newcastle universities. It represents a real opportunity for businesses to take those first steps, providing access to experts to develop their technology.
We’re developing a comprehensive skills and training offer, and launching two new degrees in Satellite Aerospace Engineering in September. A CPD portfolio will follow from that. Businesses can help shape those programmes in line with their needs, provide student projects and inform future curriculum development.
NESST is not just for businesses who already operate in the sector, there are real needs for products and technologies that could be developed for space, though isn’t their current primary use. The North East has a strong advanced manufacturing base and many businesses already possess capabilities that are highly relevant to space applications. We have some great examples of businesses in the region who have pivoted into the sector and are now seeing those opportunities and rewards.
We’re seeing particularly opportunities for and interest in businesses working with lightweight materials, semiconductors, electronics, communications technologies and radiation-resistant technologies, in addition to the growing data processing market.
What are North East England’s greatest strengths in the space sector?
The region has strong capabilities in communications technologies, and also in data, AI and Earth observation.
We’re also seeing exciting developments around advanced manufacturing, semiconductors and materials innovation.
And we have a really strong space ecosystem that is growing rapidly. It contains prime businesses like Lockheed, Airbus and Leonardo. This is combined and complemented with some high growth, high opportunity and exciting SMEs developing novel technology.
We also have real research power, and skills support through all five universities in the North East and growing college network. This is of course all supported by our own space cluster, Space North East England, and the support of the North East Strategic Mayoral Authority.
So we have the capabilities. Now we need to maximise on the opportunity.
How is North East England’s contribution to the space sector viewed internationally?
Very positively.
I’ve been fortunate enough to engage with organisations across Europe and the United States, and there’s growing recognition that the North East is becoming a serious player.
We’re not trying to replicate the huge programmes being delivered by major organisations in places like Florida or Texas. Instead, we’re developing technologies and capabilities that complement those programmes.
One comment we’ve heard repeatedly from international visitors is that many organisations talk about creating innovation ecosystems, but we’re already building one. We’re investing in facilities, skills programmes and collaborative infrastructure that will genuinely support business growth. NESST is a beacon for the UK space ecosystem.
People can see that momentum. Ten years ago, our regional space cluster conference attracted around 20 delegates. This year, the Space North East Conference was attended by 380 delegates from all over the world.
Finally, could you share your personal highlights of your work with NESST?
It’s very exciting to be part of these developments in the space sector. We’re talking about the satellites the size of a shoebox, talking to other satellites the size of a shoebox 1000 kilometres away at huge speeds.
For example, we’re developing the UK’s first commercial autonomous laser-based inter-satellite communications system (ALIGN) where satellites the size of a shoebox can securely transmit data 1000 times faster than traditional communications terminals across vast distances in space. This and many other projects we’re working on were science fiction five years ago and we’re building them now and will be putting them into space.
I’ve also been fortunate to go to Florida and see the Artemis rocket on the launchpad, and witness SpaceX launches. The scale of the sector there is huge, another level. Though I truly believe we have a real opportunity to be part of that, here in the North East…
Want to find out more about NESST and Northumbria University’s work in the space sector? Click here.