Liverpool City Region Metro Mayor and Greater Manchester counterpart Andy Burnham sign agreement with space station developer Axiom Space. Tony McDonough reports
Liverpool city region and Greater Manchester are joining the space race.
Metro Mayors Steve Rotheram and Andy Burnham have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Axiom Space, developer of the first commercial space station. They are keen to grab a slice of the £490bn global space sector.
This MoU will establish a framework for collaboration on space-based research, development, and manufacturing, helping to position the North West as a “global centre for innovation in microgravity science and space technology”.
With in-space manufacturing, biotech, and communications poised to transform industries worldwide, this partnership will ensure the UK – and the North West in particular – plays a leading role in this rapidly growing sector.
The agreement builds on discussions between Mayor Rotheram and British astronaut Tim Peake, a strategic advisor to Axiom Space, and discussions between Axiom and Mayor Burnham at the South by Southwest festival in 2023.
Tim Peake has championed the UK’s potential in space-based innovation and has supported efforts to connect scientific research and commercial opportunities with UK regions.
Axiom Space is the principal provider of commercial human spaceflight services, including missions to the International Space Station (ISS), and is developing the world’s first commercial space station, Axiom Station.
Steve Rotheram said: “For centuries, our region has been at the forefront of innovation—from the world’s first passenger railway to breakthroughs in modern medicine. Now, we’re looking to space as the next great frontier for our expertise in advanced manufacturing, materials science, and biotech.
“This collaboration with Axiom Space puts us at the cutting edge of a global industry that’s predicted to be worth nearly half a trillion pounds within the decade.
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“Liverpool city region has the talent, ambition, and infrastructure to lead the way, attracting investment, creating high-skilled jobs, and ensuring that space-based research delivers real-world benefits for people and businesses here on Earth.”
Andy Burnham added: “This collaboration with Axiom Space is a great example of what can be done when our city regions work together to drive growth.”
