Harwell Science and Innovation Campus welcomed NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and Prime Minister Andy Burnham on Wednesday 16 September, highlighting the strength of the UK’s space, defence and security capabilities.

The visit brought together two important areas of the campus: Harwell’s established Space Cluster, home to more than 100 space organisations and 1,400 people, and its growing Defence and Security Cluster.

During their visit, the leaders toured RAL Space before meeting organisations working across space, defence and advanced technology, including Astroscale, Space Solar, Open Cosmos and Oxford Dynamics.

The visit came just one week after the launch of the UK’s new National Space Strategy, which sets out the Government’s ambitions for the UK’s space sector, including strengthening resilience and supporting innovation.

Harwell’s Space Cluster is the UK’s largest concentration of space organisations, bringing together companies, government agencies and research teams working across satellite technology, Earth observation, space exploration and advanced space systems. The cluster provides a connected environment where organisations can access specialist facilities, expertise, investment and opportunities to collaborate.

The campus is also home to a growing community of organisations developing technologies for defence and security, creating opportunities for collaboration between space, advanced engineering, national facilities and industry.

Mark Rutte highlighted the wider economic and societal value of defence investment during his visit, including the jobs and economic growth generated by a strong defence industry. He also praised the UK’s innovative technologies, defence industry and world-class universities.

As the UK’s space and defence capabilities continue to develop, Harwell provides a unique environment where organisations can develop technologies, build partnerships and turn scientific research into real-world capability.

The visit follows the recent opening of the UK Space & Defence Gateway at Harwell by His Majesty King Charles III earlier this year, underlining the campus’s role as a place where national capability, research and industry come together.