Regional space industry at the forefront

More collaboration between researchers and the space industry and more innovations and start-ups. When the project RIT Space for Innovation and Growth closes, it is as an accelerator for a regional space industry.

– We have developed the attractiveness of the region, and more businesses want to invest and establish themselves here, says Johanna Bergström-Roos, from LTU Business, who has been the project leader since the project started eight years ago.

During the project period, 15 new business ideas have been tested in the market, and collaboration has taken place among 15 universities from eight countries. 13 research subjects at Luleå University of Technology have contributed to the project through 18 research collaborations with the space industry. The number of companies in the region working in the space industry has increased from 2 to 15. A Center for Space Technology has been established at the university, and two existing test beds have been opened to external partners and customers.

– When we started the project, the aim was to take a comprehensive approach to space activity in the region. We have succeeded because we had a strong and clear project owner in Luleå University of Technology, which has remained steadfast in its strategic perspective. The university has provided continuity and become a driving force for regional development, says Johanna Bergstöm-Roos.

More applied research

According to Johanna Bergström-Roos, continuit is a crucial factor for the project's success. Another factor is clarity; the project plan has always been well-anchored among the stakeholders. Another success factor is the bridges that have been built between academia and industry. New points of contact have helped them better understand each other's motivations, providing long-term benefits for both researchers and companies. Anna Öhrwall Rönnbäck, Professor of Product Innovation, confirms this:

– The project has meant a lot to us. We are experts in product development methodology, and working with space technology has provided us with invaluable new perspectives. We have entered an entirely new application area – today, half of our research group works on space applications.

As is well known, space presents extreme conditions. Combined with long, complex procurement processes, a high degree of experimentation, cutting-edge research, and a high level of innovation, it affects the engineering work done within the processes.

– Collaborating with space companies has definitely advanced our research. We have also involved the space industry in the form of real student projects in several of our engineering programs. This has enabled completely new interdisciplinary approaches, says Anna Öhrwall Rönnbäck.

Space becomes a primary industry

Johanna Bergström-Roos hopes that the ecosystem established by RIT will continue to thrive after the project is over. Space is essential, for example, for the green transition; technology for space has become mainstream technology in areas such as communication, positioning, and satellite data. Johanna Bergström-Roos is convinced that even more space industry companies will establish themselves in the region in the future.

– All the work we have put in has prepared the ground and created conditions for more initiatives. We are a regional cluster that also plays a role on the national space stage. In ten years, it would not surprise me if space is a primary industry in Norrbotten, concludes Johanna Bergström-Roos.

RIT is funded by the European Regional Development Fund and has been led by Luleå University of Technology. Other partners in the project include the Swedish Institute of Space Physics, LTU Business, ESA BIC Sweden, Arctic Business, Sweden Space Corporation, OHB Sweden, GKN Aerospace, and Isar Aerospace. The project was also funded by Sparbanken Nord, Kiruna Municipality, and Luleå Municipality.