UK Science Minister on space in the UK

UK Minister for Universities and Science Jo Johnson spoke at the flag-raising ceremony of ESA's European Centre for Space Applications and Telecommunications (ECSAT) in the UK on 9 July 2015. The Honourable Jo Johnson, MP, spoke about the UK's increased commitment to ESA during the financial crisis of 2008 and pledged his government's continued support to ESA and British science and space activities. He also extended his congratulations to the partners of the telecom programme Quantum.

ECSAT is the youngest of ESA's centres across Europe, and has a special focus on telecom and partnerships with industry. One hundred ECSAT staff and contractors will be housed in the brand new "Roy Gibson" building on Harwell Campus, the UK Space Gateway, by the end of 2015.

Over two hundred space industry leaders from all over Europe joined the raising of ESA's Member State flags at ECSAT on 9 July.