On 10 July 2026, His Majesty King Charles III visited Harwell Science and Innovation Campus to officially open the UK Space and Defence Gateway.

The visit also recognised Harwell’s alignment with the Sustainable Markets Initiative and the Terra and Astra Carta mandates, founded by His Majesty King Charles III. These frameworks encourage businesses to embed nature, climate resilience and long-term sustainability into the heart of their strategy and operations as well as sustainable practices across global space-related industries. It was a moment that reflected not just innovation in science and technology, but a wider commitment to green growth.

A Front Door for Space and Defence Collaboration

The new UK Space and Defence Gateway is designed as a dedicated hub for two of the most strategically important sectors in the UK economy. At its core, the Gateway is about connection between disciplines, organisations and ideas and about ensuring that the UK continues to play a leading role in developing cutting-edge technologies. Bringing together government, academia, industry and innovators, it aims to accelerate collaboration, unlock new partnerships and help shape the future of the global space and defence economy. 

As both sectors respond to the Defence Investment Plan and increasingly complex geopolitics, collaboration has never been more important. 

Sustainability on Earth and in Orbit

During the visit, His Majesty toured RAL Space, the UK’s national space laboratory,  and met with a range of campus-based companies working at the intersection of space innovation and environmental responsibility.

In addition to RAL Space, whose Earth observation capabilities are helping to advance understanding of climate change and biodiversity loss, he met organisations including the European Space Agency (ESA), space debris removal specialist Astroscale, Space Solar, and Oxford Space Systems. Together, these organisations demonstrate how space technologies are increasingly essential in addressing some of the most pressing environmental challenges on Earth.

Quad Three and a Plaque with Purpose

The opening of the Gateway, at Quad Three, saw an official plaque unveiling take place. In keeping with Harwell’s commitment to sustainability, the plaque itself was designed to reflect the values of the campus.

 Working in collaboration with Smile Materials, a UK based company which transforms waste into beautiful, durable materials for commercial interiors, the plaque was created using recycled plastic. Smile materials are now used in some of the world’s most forward-thinking architectural and design projects and the Harwell plaque continues this trajectory.

The Ocean plaque is made from 100% recycled and recyclable plastic packaging.  It serves as a tangible reflection of the Terra Carta mandate, recognising that the transition towards a sustainable future must be driven by meaningful action and a balanced approach creating a positive, enduring impact for Nature, People and Planet.

Sustainability at Harwell: Built into the Campus

The King’s visit and the Gateway launch sit within a much broader ambition at Harwell: to develop a world-class science and innovation campus that is also a model for sustainable growth.

Our approach includes pioneering infrastructure such as a smart sustainable power grid, making Harwell the first UK science campus to deploy this technology in a commercial setting. The system will deliver lower-carbon energy across the campus, reduce energy costs, and support more than two million square feet of future expansion.

Sustainability is also embedded in the physical design of the campus itself .The Quad 3 building, where the Gateway will be located, the building housing the Gateway, sets a high sustainability benchmark. It is EPC ‘A’ rated and BREEAM ‘Excellent’; fully electric, with no reliance on fossil fuels; Net zero in operation and it has a 65kWp rooftop solar array.

Developments such as CO:LABS have been carefully designed around existing natural features, including mature weeping birch trees, ensuring that biodiversity and landscape are preserved rather than displaced.

Working with Nature, Not Against It

Harwell’s growth vision is guided by a clear principle: growth must respect and enhance the natural environment in which it sits. Located within the North Wessex Downs National Landscape, the campus is surrounded by protected countryside of significant ecological and cultural value, and there is plentiful space to grow sustainably within our 700 acre campus. 

Through its support of the North Wessex Downs Landscape Trust, Harwell is helping to raise awareness of the region’s unique character while encouraging greater engagement with its landscapes.

Looking Forward

From space sustainability to circular materials, from smart energy systems to landscape stewardship, the campus is demonstrating what it means to be truly sustainable by design and by nature.