The Higgs Centre for Innovation is relaunching its Space Testing Facility after upgrading its capabilities with new, state-of-the-art clean rooms and advanced testing equipment.
Following nine months of renovations and a AUD777,000 plus investment via the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), the Higgs’ space testing facility is reopening for business. The upgrade will further enable the site to support early-stage tech start-ups and space SMEs.
Part of STFC, the Higgs Centre is co-located with the UK Astronomy Technology Centre (UK ATC) and the University of Edinburgh’s Institute for Astronomy (IfA) at the Royal Observatory Edinburgh. The site also hosts Scotland’s European Space Agency (ESA) Business Incubation Centre UK.
The main driver for the renovations was to the make the facilities more accessible to a broader base of technology SMEs and space companies and to help meet the needs of the rapidly growing UK space sector.
This includes offering more equipment capable of performing a greater range of environmental testing. For example, for small satellites or other spacecraft, and checking the reliability of technology destined for orbit well in advance of launch. The offering now includes vibration, thermal, vacuum, optical, SpaceWire, electromagnetic compatibility and radio frequency testing.
The new facilities were designed to specifications set by STFC and UK ATC. The facilities will help ensure companies can test their products and technologies to the standards set by NASA, ESA, various rocket launch providers, and other partners.
Higgs offers state-of-the-art equipment and clean rooms, as well as specialist advice and guidance. The facility has become an integral part of Scotland’s end-to-end space sector offering and is supported by UK ATC’s world-leading expertise in remote sensing instrumentation, system calibration, verification, and testing.
Ultimately, users gain affordable and timely access to world-class amenities, expert knowledge, and workspaces to take their technologies and businesses to the next level.
This support, which would otherwise be out of reach to the kind of small business that makes up the majority of the space industry in the UK, reduces risks and costs, helping them to reach market faster.
“After nine months of hard work we are thrilled to throw open our doors once again and invite companies to access our bigger and better range of dedicated space testing facilities at the Higgs Centre,” said STFC’s Dr Julian Dines.
“This upgrade means an even broader range of space testing can now take place on-site here in Edinburgh, increasing the reliability of satellites in orbit,” he said. “We look forward to supporting the further expansion of the burgeoning space sector in Scotland, particularly as we approach the next phase in the sector’s development with space launch from Scotland.”
“The relaunch of the Higgs Centre for Innovation’s Space Testing Facility will benefit Scotland and the UK as a whole, catalysing investment and strengthening our end-to-end space sector capabilities,” said the UK Space Agency’s Annelies Look.
“By providing affordable, world-class testing equipment and specialist guidance, the Higgs Centre is empowering early-stage tech start-ups and space SMEs to innovate, reduce risks, and bring their products to market faster,” she said. “This will ensure that Scotland and the UK remain at the forefront of space exploration and technology, creating jobs and driving economic growth.”
