Durham tech company receives €400k grant to launch 'revolutionary' space project

A North East technology company has announced that it has received a €400k grant to support a telecommunications project.

County Durham based aXenic is launching a project to develop ‘revolutionary’ components for the next generation of telecommunications satellites.

Based at the North East Technology Park (NETPark) in Sedgefield, aXenic specialises in the design, development and production of optical modulators for satellite and aerospace communications.

The three-year grant from the European Horizon 2020 programme, which was secured with support from Business Durham will be used to launch the SIPhoDiAS research and development (R&D) project.

Steve Clements, CEO at aXenic, commented: “We are pleased once again to engage in leading edge space technology working with satellite builders, this time with Thales Alenia Space, as well as with the supply chain to help make the next generation of satellite communications a reality.

“This can make a real difference to delivering a whole range of new global services from space, including the highest quality internet.”

Sarah Slaven, interim managing director of Business Durham, added: “We’re delighted to see aXenic launch this very exciting project with some of the world’s leading space companies.

“The company has been involved with the North East Satellite Applications Centre of Excellence at NETPark for several years and it’s fantastic to see them raise the profile of the North East within the wider space network, nationally and beyond.

“The space sector in the North East has been growing over recent years. We look forward to supporting and attracting more innovations and companies such as this.”