Prime Minister Andy Burnham and NATO chief Mark Rutte meet for first time at UK space facility

Professor Sir Ian Chapman, UKRI Chief Executive and STFC Executive Chair Professor Michele Dougherty, welcomed the UK’s PM Andy Burnham and NATO chief Mark Rutte to the Harwell Science and Innovation campus.

The leaders visited STFC’s RAL Space facility to learn more about the contribution UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) makes to defence on behalf of the UK.

The visit was hosted by Dr Barbara Ghinelli, Director of Innovation Clusters and Harwell Campus at the Science and Technology Facility Council (STFC).

How the space sector continues to collaborate to support UK security

The visit showcased with industry and other partners how powerful innovation ecosystems and clusters help deliver growth and respond more quickly to national priorities.

This was the first time the Prime Minister and NATO Secretary General Mr Rutte had met face-to-face and enabled UKRI colleagues and partners from the UK Space Agency, UK Space Command and industry to discuss defence issues at RAL Space.

They discussed the recent launch of the UK Space and Defence Gateway at our Harwell Science and Innovation Campus and highlighted how the space sector could further support the UK’s national security and economic growth.

Officially opened by His Majesty King Charles III, the UK Space and Defence Gateway brings the civil and defence space sectors together, helping accelerate innovation, improve coordination and support delivery at greater pace and scale, by providing a rich environment of skills, talent, capabilities and shared infrastructure.

Advancing knowledge with a strategy to develop defence capabilities

Speaking about the visit to the Harwell Science and Innovation campus, UKRI Chief Executive Professor Sir Ian Chapman said: “The work that we do to advance knowledge, to improve lives and to drive growth is central to the Industrial Strategy pillar around defence and national security, our campuses play a key role in that, that is why we have been hosting the visit by the PM and the NATO Secretary General at Harwell. The discussions we had during the visit absolutely shape our forward strategy and indeed what we deliver for the country.”

After touring RAL Space facilities and learning first-hand about how the UK’s space sector is supported, the leaders attended a business showcase. It featured space and defence organisations within the facility’s ecosystem from across the country, who are pivotal to the UK’s growing capabilities in these sectors.

Dr Barbara Ghinelli is also the founder of the UK Space and Defence Gateway based at Harwell and said: “Discussions at the showcase highlighted the importance of having a UK Space and Defence Gateway that provides a trusted environment for joint activities and a front door for collaboration with European and allied nations, empowering innovators from across the UK to build commercial and financial resilience while strengthening sovereign capabilities.”

Enhancing resilience in the space domain and supporting innovation within NATO

The two leaders also discussed how the UK could further support innovation within NATO. The PM highlighted how the new national space strategy, released last week and which includes substantial contributions from UKRI, would further enhance the UK’s innovation and resilience in the space domain.
Supporting UK’s ambitions

Dr Sarah Beardsley, Director of RAL Space and who led the tour of the testing hall and research work spaces, said: “It was a pleasure to welcome the Prime Minister and NATO Secretary General to RAL Space and to demonstrate how, as the UK’s National Space Laboratory, we are ready to deliver on the UK’s ambitions under the new National Space Strategy. Our end‑to‑end expertise, advanced facilities, and leadership in technology development, combined with our heritage and partnerships across the sector, ensure we continue to strengthen the UK’s capabilities, economy, and security.”

UKRI is a major partner in the new UK Space and Defence Gateway, which is a dedicated hub for the space and defence sectors, driving national and global collaboration between government, academia, innovators and industry.