Research & Infrastructure

Wales has an advanced academic sector that already supports the global space sector. The Wales Space Academic Partnership (WASP), provides a single voice and strategic pathway for its members (and therefore for Wales) and strengthens the goals of the UK National Technology Plan. This approach is supported by the Wales Aerospace Forum and the Welsh Government.

WASP was founded with the following mission:
To support the development of space technologies; to protect planet earth, advance global connectivity, protect human kind
and further the exploration of space.


Visit WASPRAD website

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WASP supports The Arc of Innovation which offers the global space industry a winning combination.

  • World class R&D through the Wales Academic
    Space Partnership.
  • Strategic sites with airside access and room to
    locate and grow.
  • Space Innovation Support Facilities to
    support developments
  • Up and down stream space companies.
  • 2,500 sq miles of segmented airspace
    (supported by state-of-the-art, electro optical
    tracking, radar and telemetry), with the
    potential for direct and controlled access
    to space.

RESEARCH CENTRES & CATAPULTS

The University of Sheffield AMRC Cymru is a cutting-edge R&D facility, providing an open innovation platform accessible to all manufacturers of any size. Part of the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre and a member of the High Value Manufacturing (HVM) Catapult, a consortium of leading manufacturing and process research centres backed by Innovate UK, our team de-risk R&D investment to drive step-change improvements in productivity, quality and sustainability.

Our ability to draw on the proven R&D talent of the University of Sheffield AMRC and the seven-member HVM Catapult, provides immediate strength in depth to support the Welsh Government in its ambition to make North Wales the epicentre of innovation driven, advanced manufacturing.

The AMRC’s global reputation as the go-to-place for aerospace R&D, whether in new engine manufacturing processes, inspection and verification, materials and methods for wing manufacture and connected factory development, makes us a
natural fit for North Wales which is a national hub for aerospace engineering and manufacturing excellence.

The R&D talent at AMRC Cymru is accessible to all. Working with the Welsh Government, our goal is to drive innovation across the wider economy of Wales, supporting sectors such as aerospace, food and drink and automotive, where Wales has great strengths, along with the extended SME supply chains that form the backbone of the economy.

Find out more about AMRC Cymru here: www.amrc.co.uk



Compound Semiconductor Applications (CSA) Catapult was established in 2018 by Innovate UK to help the UK become a global leader in compound semiconductors.

CSA Catapult is a not-for-profit organisation headquarters in Newport, South Wales and with offices in Bristol, Durham and Glasgow.  CSA Catapult is the UK’s authority on compound semiconductor applications and commercialisation.

We have a world-leading team of experts with the know-how, experience and track record in developing and commercialising compound semiconductor technologies and applications.

We work with large organisations, SMEs and academia to de-risk and optimise their technologies, and to grow the UK industry. We are a trusted, neutral convener, bringing innovators, industry and academia together to build new supply chains across the UK.

CSA Catapult brings compound semiconductor applications to life in two key areas: Net Zero and Future Telecoms.

 Our capabilities span four areas – power electronics, advanced packaging, radio frequency (RF) microwave, and photonics – that are interconnected and interdependent on one another.

Our state-of-the-art equipment is used in the measurement, characterisation, integration and validation of compound semiconductor technology.

The next wave of emerging applications using compound semiconductors will have an enormous impact on our lives. Compound semiconductors will enable a host of new and exciting applications, helping to accelerate Net Zero and ensuring that the UK has a resilient future telecoms network.

Find out more about CSA Catapult here: csa.catapult.org.uk

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