The Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Centre (AMIC), part of the Belfast Region Deal, launched the Space Enterprise Lab in collaboration with the Satellite Applications Catapult. Part of a UK-wide network, the Space Enterprise Lab will foster collaboration between our local space sector and the UK space ecosystem.
Projects like the £37.6 million Digital Twin Centre, which recently opened its doors in Belfast, will accelerate industry adoption of digital twin technology. A digital twin is a digital replica of a physical asset, process or system that can help many organisations simulate real situations and their outcomes, ultimately allowing them to make better decisions.
Dual market access also gives Northern Ireland manufacturing businesses a competitive advantage over GB and EU counterparts due to frictionless trading arrangements. Free trade between GB and the EU without custom checks, origin requirements, or tariffs, allows NI businesses within the space industry to compete on a stronger footing in a multi-trillion pound trade market. This opens up a wealth of potential and opportunity to tap into supply chains across Europe.
The space industry is vast, and its opportunities are plentiful. Northern Ireland’s contribution to the sector is growing year on year, and if we continue to collaborate, innovate, and invest in our capabilities, the space industry will become a star player in our economy.