In a giant leap for science and innovation in the South West, we’ve been working in partnership with Spaceport Cornwall, Virgin Orbit, Cornwall Council, the UK and European space agencies and the South West Satellite Applications Catapult. Together, we’re building the expertise and business support services that enable Cornwall to reap the economic and societal benefits from the rapidly growing space industry.
Our world-class research and teaching is helping to revolutionise business, jobs and skills.
Spaceport Cornwall is a £multi-million investment that puts Cornwall at the centre of the growing UK space sector and into a £15 billion industry with opportunities in manufacturing, design, engineering and research.
We’re also supporting the opportunities presented by the launch of satellites and space applications that are critical to our understanding of the environment, natural resources and our changing world, by establishing a South West Centre of Excellence in Satellite Applications at our Penryn Campus.
In partnership with the Spaceport and Virgin Orbit, we’ve established an Institute of Extreme Environments to bring together world-leading research in marine and polar sciences, deep earth mining, unmanned vehicles and medicine in extreme conditions. All of this, together with our expertise in alternative energy sources, human health, psychology, space law and sports medicine, promises to make Cornwall a global leader for space environments research.
We’re also focused on helping to create the estimated 30,000 graduates needed for the UK space industry by 2030.
All of this is aligned with our work in tackling the environment and climate emergency, using data science and AI to unlock the power of satellite data to give our scientists greater capabilities to monitor temperatures and greenhouse gases, changing polar ice caps and sea-levels, land and water pollution, coastal erosion, deforestation and the impact on urban and rural life.
With our partners, we’re committed to ensuring Spaceport Cornwall is a leader in greener, cleaner space launches and utilises alternative and sustainable technologies to minimise the carbon footprint.
Professor Lisa Roberts - University of Exeter Vice-Chancellor