Lockheed Martin Invests in the North's Growing Space Capability as Global Experts Gather in Edinburgh
Lockheed Martin UK is continuing to invest in the future of space capability across the North, supporting skills development, innovation and collaboration to help strengthen the UK's growing space sector.
That commitment was reflected last month as the company welcomed leading experts from across the international space community to Edinburgh for the Global Space Traffic Management Workshop (GSTM), a unique forum focused on the future of safe, secure and sustainable space operations.
Across the North, Lockheed Martin UK is helping develop the foundations of the future space workforce through initiatives including the North East Space Skills and Technology Centre (NESST), established in partnership with Northumbria University and the UK Space Agency. The centre will help develop the highly skilled workforce needed by the UK's growing space sector while providing research and testing capabilities to support innovation across Northern England and Scotland.
The company has also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with North East Mayor Kim McGuinness to support collaboration on skills development, investment and supply chain growth, reinforcing the North's growing role in supporting the UK's space and defence ambitions.
Alongside these investments, Lockheed Martin continues to support collaboration across the global space community through initiatives such as GSTM.
Founded by Lockheed Martin Programme Principal Matt Bold and Professor Bob Mann of the University of Edinburgh, the workshop brings together academics, policymakers, engineers and legal experts to explore solutions to some of the most pressing challenges facing the space domain.
This year's event welcomed delegates from the UK, Europe, North America, Asia and Australia to discuss the strategic data and information-sharing requirements needed to support future space operations.
Matt Bold said:
"We aim to foster a collaborative and inclusive environment, bringing together diverse perspectives from around the world. That same spirit of collaboration underpins our commitment to developing future space capability across the UK."
Among those attending was David Ball, Director for Australia and New Zealand at Lockheed Martin Space, highlighting the workshop's international reach and the value of sharing expertise across global space communities.
David Ball said:
Participants agreed that improving access to the information needed to conduct space activities safely and securely remains a significant challenge. Addressing that challenge was the central focus of this year's workshop, providing a platform for open discussion, collaboration and practical recommendations to support the future of global space operations.
As the UK's space sector continues to grow, investments in regional capability, skills development and international collaboration will be critical to ensuring the country remains at the forefront of innovation, security and sustainability in the space domain.
About Lockheed Martin
Lockheed Martin is a global defense technology company driving innovation and advancing scientific discovery. Our all-domain mission solutions and 21st Century Security® vision accelerate the delivery of transformative technologies to ensure those we serve always stay ahead of ready. More information at Lockheedmartin.com.
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Media Contacts:
Jackie Lucas +44 (0) 7385 005135 | jacqueline.a.lucas@global.lmco.com