Heriot-Watt University to Host the New Scottish Space Company

Celestia UK has boosted Scotland’s space industry by establishing a base in Edinburgh. The company, specializing in satellite tracking, chose Heriot-Watt University’s Research Park as its permanent base after a five-month residency at the Global Research and Innovation Discovery (GRID) facility at the University. Research Park is the largest science park in Edinburgh and will enable the company to undertake its next phase of development.

The new development phase will involve setting up assembly facilities and modern labs and delivering satellites on the move gateway system and the user terminal. Celestia UK also plans to design and produce aircraft’s flat-panel satellite antenna and the first next-generation satellite link, that will enhance inflight connectivity. During the process, the company will create 18 new jobs, recruiting engineers across different disciplines.

Why Celestia UK is Investing in Scotland’s Space Sector

Scotland’s space industry has a strong reputation, with companies in the sector growing to 132 in 2019 from 104 in 2016. According to the UK Space Agency, Scotland space sector accounts for 18% of all the jobs in the UK’s space industry. Jose Alonso, the chairperson of Celestia Technologies Group, stated that they moved to GRID at Heriot-Watt University in January 2020, having chosen Scotland because of the burgeoning space sector, which is characterized by a high level of skill, R&D and investment.”

Alonso also acknowledged the support the team at GRID had provided and their role in helping Celestia UK establish their business, particularly strengthening their link with the local businesses and the University. Heriot-Watt University’s head of commercialization, Paul Devlin, added: “We’ve been delighted to welcome Celestia UK to the University and help in its expansion.” The University looks forward to future collaborations and helping businesses, including the Scotland space companies, grow into world-class businesses.