Technopolis was commissioned to evaluate the participation of the UK in the European Space Agency’s Advanced Research into Telecommunications (ARTES) programme.  The final study report presents a body of evidence on the activities and outcomes of past UK investment in ARTES and demonstrates the wide-ranging benefits and value for money to inform future decisions. 

The report reveals the positive impacts the programme has delivered for the UK, including strengthened partnerships between companies, increased visibility and reputation of UK capabilities, and the encouragement of more UK companies to get involved in the space sector.  It also finds that each £1 million won in ARTES contracts by UK industry has led to £14.4 million in additional income, beyond the value of these contracts, meaning that £11bn in additional income has been generated in the UK over the last decade. 

The vast majority of companies contributing to the study confirmed that the ARTES programme benefitted the UK’s economy as well as end-users of telecommunications technology.  The benefits to society of the resultant technology are extremely wide-ranging, the report says, and include using satellite data to improve cycle routes, increasing online connectivity in hard-to-reach places and improving the monitoring of people’s health with wearable devices. Around the world, the systems produced through ARTES also provide back-up communications channels in disasters, allow farmers to track crop growth and impact upon many other areas.

Commenting on the release of the report, the UK Space Agency CEO Graham Turnock said:
“The UK is leading the charge across Europe for commercially-focused space programmes which deliver significant value for money and develop our national capabilities.  This report shows the value of the ARTES programme to the UK, which has involved more than 200 organisations across the country and led to the establishment of ESA’s facility in Harwell.  We will make ambitious new investments in ESA space programmes later this year as part of the government’s wider ambitions to increase research and development spending and play a leading role in the new space age.”

ARTES is an ESA initiative that supports the research and development of innovative technology for telecommunications.  The UK is Europe’s leading investor in the programme and is looking to continue its commitment in November 2019 during the ESA Council of Ministers meeting, Space19+ in Seville, Spain.

For further information please contact Neil Brown.