The University of Leicester has secured a fund from the UK Government for its planned National Space Park project, which aims to support the development of new space, satellite and other technologies.

Part of the government’s Local Growth Deal funding, the £12.87m in funding will also help the university’s Leicester & Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership (LLEP) programme to conduct space research, learning, public engagement and innovation activities.

The financing is expected to create around 500 jobs and support up to 100 local businesses.

"The National Space Park is going to have a huge impact on the city and region, and it will be nationally important."

Under the latest round of Local Growth Deal programme, LLEP has won a total of £25.87m in funding, in addition to the £1m funding for the extension of the university’s National Space Centre.

University of Leicester president and vice-chancellor Paul Boyle said: “From the life sciences to R&D supporting investment in energy, space and satellite technologies, Leicestershire is emerging at the forefront of UK research. The National Space Park is going to have a huge impact on the city and region, and it will be nationally important.

“It will help us deliver against at least three of the challenges that the government has articulated in their Industrial and Midlands Engine strategies.”

In addition, the National Space Park project will enable the university to reduce satellite development costs, as well as access to improved earth observation and other space-enabled data for challenges such as supply chain resilience, air quality and traffic management.