How SMEs can develop the capabilities needed for the Space Sector

We will present an overview of the multi-disciplinary space research, training and industry engagement activities offered by the Universities of Durham and Surrey.  This will be followed by an interactive session for SMEs, focusing on how they can develop capabilities for the Space Sector and access relevant support available from the universities.

Speaker Information

Dr. Atanu Chaudhuri is a Professor of Technology and Operations Management at Durham University Business School, UK. He has more than 22 years of experience spanning automotive industry, consulting and research across India, Denmark and UK.

He is a Co-founder and Co-Director of Durham University Space Research Centre and was a participant of the working group on In-Orbit Servicing and Manufacturing, organized by Space Partnership to develop UK’s priorities in that area and is currently working on a funded project on assessing circularity potential of space debris.

His research focuses on adoption of technologies such as additive manufacturing, Blockchain across the supply chain, supply chain risk management and resilience, circular economy and sustainability. He has published more than 60 articles in leading journals in the field of operations and supply chain management and has been awarded for research Impact at Durham University.

He is also a member of The Digital Supply Chain Working group at Mobility goes Additive, member of Academic Network Steering Group of Digital Supply Chain Innovation Hub, UK, Programme Director of Executive Msc. in Supply Chain Management He has obtained funding from ESRC-Interact, British Council, Innovation Fund-Denmark, European Regional Development Fund etc.

Joanne Rout, Senior Business Development Manager, Durham University, has a background in industrial research and technical and commercial management. She has also delivered business growth and innovation support programmes for SMEs in North East England. In her role at Durham University as Senior Business Development Manager she works alongside academic staff to develop collaborations with external partners.

Moe Ahmed serves as the Space Skills Specialist at the Surrey Space Centre, where he plays a key role in the SpaceCraft initiative. This programme, supported by the UK Space Agency and the University of Surrey, aims to assist small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the space sector or those transitioning into it. By providing access to state-of-the-art facilities and expert guidance, SpaceCraft empowers these businesses to thrive. The initiative also offers specialised space engineering training to both professionals and further education students.

Moe possess a robust technical background and is nearing the completion of his PhD in Space Engineering, with a focus on in-space propulsion. His research specialises in the miniaturisation of electric propulsion systems and the development of plasma cathodes for electric propulsion. He earned an MSc in Space Engineering from the University of Surrey, where he focused on satellite communication, and a BEng in Aerospace from Swansea University. Moe’s experience spans collaborations with various space-related organisations, such as Clutch Space Systems, as well as non-space SMEs like Vortex IoT.