The UK Space Agency has awarded £10 million to the University to support the development of the North East Space Skills and Technology (NESST) Centre, which will support the creation of 350 new jobs.
Opening in 2025, the building will be a ‘national space asset’, bringing £260 million into the North East’s economy over the next 30 years. The space sector has been predominantly concentrated in London and the Southeast, so this new cluster for research announces a host of new opportunities.
Dr Paul Bate, Chief Executive of the UK Space Agency, said: “These projects demonstrate the potential of our thriving space sector across the length and breadth of the UK to develop innovative space infrastructure that helps us to deliver increasingly ambitious missions and capabilities, and champions the power of space to improve lives.”
Located on the Northumbria campus, the Wynne Jones building is due to reopen in 2025, as a refurbished hub for NESST. Overlooking Newcastle’s central motorway, the building will feature a mixture of laboratory and teaching spaces, putting the UK at the forefront for space research.
With its aim to boost the space technology industry in the North East, the project will bring together businesses and academics, providing specialist education and creating products that are ‘mission ready’ for the commercial market.
A further investment from Lockheed Martin of £15 million means that the leading aerospace company will become the first anchor tenant for the project. The investment is said to benefit and work towards a collaborative approach in research for the university.
Lizzie Kerr, Director of UK SPACE, said: “The national geographic diversity and spread of funded projects is welcomed and applauded by UK SPACE whose members are based right across the UK.”
As well as boosting the reputability of the university, the project will help to regenerate surrounding public areas within the city centre, prompted by NESST’s partnerships with local and national organisations.
By Lili Snoxell