News: Microelectronics
2 June 2023
New Space Enterprise Lab opens at CSA Catapult in South Wales
The latest addition to the UK’s Satellite Applications Catapult’s network of Space Enterprise Labs (SEL) has opened at the Compound Semiconductor Applications (CSA) Catapult in Newport, South Wales, providing companies and academics access to the latest collaborative technology, resources and expertise.
The services at the Space Enterprise Labs enable the virtual delivery of “meetings, business sprints, user engagement spark sessions and other services, such as virtual whiteboards and built-in video conferencing” for everyone within the UK space sector to utilize.
The Space Enterprise Labs were created in response to the changing needs of space organizations since the global pandemic and a need to collaborate virtually with stakeholders in many locations. They are free to use and open to existing space organizations and academic institutions across the UK. Located across the country, Space Enterprise Labs provide users with Zoom licenses, virtual reality headsets and access to Microsoft Surface Hubs as well as a modern, professional and safe working environment.
CSA Catapult is applying compound semiconductor technologies to space applications, supporting a network of space-based businesses and organizations across the country. Specifically, compound semiconductors enable a number of space-based applications where harsh environments, temperature range and reliability are all major considerations, which enables CSA Catapult’s expertise in advanced packaging and harsh environmental and reliability testing to be utilized.
“We are delighted to be launching the Space Enterprise Labs as we continue to support the growth of the space sector across the UK,” says Satellite Applications Catapult’s chief operations officer Lucy Edge. “These unique facilities embrace the new hybrid way in which we all now engage, while also offering a safe and secure environment to foster UK-wide space innovation and discussion. Businesses across the UK will now be able to collaborate across a range of high-tech, high-innovation subjects, to bring ideas and customers together more effectively,” she adds.
“We are delighted to be able to host a Space Enterprise Lab here at CSA Catapult to support a growing network of space organizations and academic institutions across the UK,” comments CSA Catapult’s CEO Martin McHugh. “We hope this innovative new service will encourage more companies to work collaboratively with us,” he adds. “We have a broad technical offering and experience in supporting companies developing space applications.”
With the addition of SEL Newport, there is now a total of 12 Space Enterprise Labs across the country, including:
- SEL Daresbury (Liverpool City Region);
- SEL Edinburgh (Midlothian);
- SEL Glasgow (Lanarkshire);
- SEL Leeds (West Yorkshire);
- SEL Exeter (Devon);
- SEL Harwell (Oxfordshire);
- SEL Leicester (Leicestershire);
- SEL NETPark (County Durham);
- SEL Penryn (Cornwall);
- SEL Portsmouth (Hampshire);
- SEL Westcott (Buckinghamshire).
CSA Catapult and Cardiff University showcase high-performing GaN power amplifier for satcoms
