– There is great potential for business development in the space sector in the future. Such an institution will give weight in terms of research and contribute positively to the development of the space industry in the region, given the targeted investment to increase activity at UiT Narvik and Andøya Space, says County Councillor for Industry Björn Larsen.
The Department of Electrotechnology at UiT's Arctic University, Narvik Campus, is at the forefront of establishing a research-based innovation (SFI) centre called the Centre for Sustainable Space Operations (CUSP). UiT Narvik applied to the County Council on behalf of the project and received a grant for the establishment.
The center will work with research programs addressing the sustainable use of space, with topics such as sustainable materials, space operations, durability, legislation, and innovation.
The centre will be established in collaboration with NTNU as an academic partner, NORCE as a research institute connected to the margins between academia and industry, as well as industrial partners such as Andøya Space, Alcoa Norway and KSAT.
Taking into account the fact that the SFI CUSP application is supported by the Norwegian Research Council, the County Council of UiT grants the Arctic University of Norway (Narvik) up to NOK 4 million in project grants spread over 8 years (NOK 500,000 per year), plus a special contribution calculated at a total of NOK 400,000 (NOK 50,000 per year).
The Centre for Research-Based Innovation (SFI) is a centre arrangement by the Norwegian Research Council (NFR) to enhance the innovative capacity of companies through long-term investment in research and close cooperation with the relevant R&D environment. The centre is scheduled to start on 1 January 2026 and will have a lifespan of eight years.
The maximum grant from the NFR is NOK 96 million, subject to partner funding of a minimum of NOK 48 million. In 2024, the NFR is calling for funds to finance up to eight such centres.
– There is great potential for business development in the space sector in the region. The establishment of SFI CUSP will give weight in terms of research and contribute positively to the development of the space industry in the region. This effort is an important step in the mission to build expertise and exploit our competitive advantages. In the county council’s political programme, we have demonstrated that Andøya Space and Andøya Spaceport are important focal points for Norway and Nordland, and it is important for the county council to be a contributor and supporter of them, concludes county councillor Björn Larsen.
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