Applications that use space data and services are one of the most exciting areas of the space ecosystem. There are so many innovative and disruptive examples that have launched and are in development, revolutionising the lives of users all across the country.
One of the most fascinating aspects of this is that many of the companies developing these applications are not big space companies with many years of working in the space sector, but small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) which have seen the opportunity space data and services can bring to enhance their products and deliver something that makes them stand out from the crowd.
The UK Space Agency is helping these SMEs develop and deliver these space powered applications through its subscription to the European Space Agency (ESA) Business Applications programme. The UK is the largest contributor in Europe to this element of ESA’s Advanced Research in Telecommunications Systems (ARTES) portfolio. This allows us to keep the UK at the frontier of space powered applications which help improve life for everyone in the UK.
We choose to spend part of our subscription on the Ambassador Platform. An Ambassador is a person who works with companies and individuals to develop their business ideas using space data and services and support their initial application into the programme. Our current Ambassador is Ian Downey, who has an encyclopaedic knowledge of the UK applications community and the Business Applications programme. However, the laws of spacetime mean that he can only be in one place at a time, and has to travel by train, bus, road or aeroplane just like everyone else, which places limitations on how many companies he can help out at any one time.
To overcome the laws of physics and to further enhance our world leading position at the forefront of space applications, we have expanded the UK Ambassador Platform from one person to seven. This means we can help even more companies deliver game changing space powered applications and services!
There are five regional ambassadors who each have a geographical area of responsibility and are coordinated by Ian and a business developer, who provides support to companies developing their business case, acting as a critical friend.
All of this team have lots of experience of working in the UK Space Sector and with business, and so are ideally positioned to support the development of new space powered business applications right across the country.
With this increased UK Ambassador Platform now available, we can cement the UK as a global leader in the exploitation of space data and services for the benefit of all.
Visit the ESA UK Ambassador Platform website to contact your regional ambassador and see how you could benefit from the #ApplicationOfSpace.
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