Royal Visit Marks Launch of the UK Space and Defence Gateway at Harwell Campus
His Majesty King Charles III officially opened the UK Space and Defence Gateway at Harwell Science and Innovation Campus on 10th July 2026, marking a significant milestone for the UK’s growing space and national security ecosystem. The Gateway aligns with the principles of the Sustainable Markets Initiative’s Astra Carta, launched by His Majesty to promote a more sustainable global space sector.
NSSIF was delighted to attend the launch, with CEO Paloma and NSSIF’s Space Theme Lead joining partners and stakeholders at Harwell to underline our commitment to sustainable, mission‑aligned innovation across the UK’s space and defence landscape.
The Gateway will serve as a dedicated hub connecting government, academia, innovators and industry, strengthening collaboration and accelerating the development of dual‑use capabilities. Located within a new co‑working and events space at the heart of the Harwell Space Cluster, it will help link innovation to investment and support businesses to start, grow and scale sustainably in the UK.
During the visit, the Sustainable Markets Initiative announced a new partnership with Harwell Science and Innovation Campus to advance Astra Carta principles and establish an investment council. This council will bring together leaders from across the space ecosystem to drive practical collaboration, innovation and investment in support of a more sustainable space economy.
His Majesty was welcomed by senior leaders including Dr Barbara Ghinelli, Founder of the UK Space and Defence Gateway; Space Minister Baroness Liz Lloyd; Air Chief Marshal Sir Harvey Smyth; and the Lord‑Lieutenant of Oxfordshire, Marjorie Glasgow BEM. The visit included a tour of STFC’s RAL Space facility, the UK’s National Space Laboratory, and demonstrations from leading UK space companies such as Astroscale, Magdrive, Open Cosmos, Orbitfab, Oxford Space Systems and Space Solar.
To conclude the visit, His Majesty unveiled a plaque made from sustainable recycled material, formally marking the opening of the UK Space and Defence Gateway.
NSSIF is proud to support the opening of the UK Space and Defence Gateway. This initiative strengthens the UK’s national security and space sectors, and reflects the vital role our portfolio companies play in driving sustainable, mission‑aligned innovation.
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