World Space Week: International Partnership Programme (IPP)
As World Space Week gets underway we look at our IPP which helps the UK space sector tackle economic, societal and environmental issues in developing countries using satellite technology.
IPP project in Uganda
The IPP is a £152 million programme, designed to partner UK space expertise with overseas governments and organisations.
In 2017 more than £70 million in funding has already been allocated to projects in partnership with the UK space industry, applying inventive satellite solutions to a range of areas such as deforestation, illegal fishing, marine pollution, disaster recovery, drought and flooding.
Later this year the Agency will announce which projects are to receive a share of a further £50 million to tackle more global challenges
Graham Turnock, Chief Executive of the UK Space Agency, said:
“World Space Week is about celebrating the contributions of space science and technology to improving life on Earth, which is what our International Partnership Programme is all about.
“The primary aim of IPP is to make a positive, practical impact on the lives of those living in developing countries. We do this by using space solutions to solve their specific challenges, partnering with end users in the developing countries and increasing their capacity to respond to those challenges.”
So far this year 22 projects have been selected to provide solutions for local issues in countries across Africa, Asia and Central and South America. All of the projects will have a long-term sustainable impact in the country they are working with, which is a vital element of IPP.
The IPP is part of the Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF), which aims to support cutting-edge research and innovation that addresses the challenges faced by developing countries.
You can find out more from the latest IPP brochure.
World Space Week runs from 4 October to 10 October.