UK Space Agency Launches National Microgravity Research Centre to Boost Semiconductor Manufacturing in Swansea

Swansea University has unveiled the UK’s first National Microgravity Research Centre (NMRC), marking a major milestone in the country’s space and semiconductor ambitions.

The £13 million project, partially funded by the UK Space Agency, promises to boost the UK’s presence in advanced materials research.

A Hub for Cutting-Edge Space Manufacturing

The NMRC has been developed at the Centre for Integrative Semiconductor Materials (CISM) and is supported by the UK Space Agency’s Space Clusters Infrastructure Fund (SCIF).

SCIF aims to strengthen regional infrastructure and grow the UK’s space economy.

Space Forge, a pioneering space manufacturing company, has become the centre’s first incubation client.

Operating from a dedicated clean room, the company now has access to state-of-the-art semiconductor processing and characterisation tools, alongside CISM’s vibrant community of researchers and innovators.

Bridging Space and Earth-Based Manufacturing

The facility is a key part of Space Forge’s hybrid manufacturing approach.

Semiconductor seed wafers are grown in microgravity aboard low Earth orbit satellites and returned to Earth, where they are scaled up at CISM.

This process allows for materials with superior properties that are difficult to produce under normal gravity.

Dr. Paul Bate, CEO of the UK Space Agency, said: “The National Microgravity Research Centre shows exactly what our Space Clusters Infrastructure Fund aims to achieve: lasting infrastructure that strengthens the UK space economy and builds sovereign capability in crucial technologies.”

He added that Space Forge’s journey – from launching the first British-built in-space manufacturing satellite to now establishing a world-class terrestrial facility in Swansea – underscores Wales and the UK as serious players in future semiconductor manufacturing.

Recent UK Space Investments

The SCIF has awarded over £45.6 million to 13 projects since its launch in 2023, with £43.8 million in match funding from the private sector.

This creates nearly £90 million in public-private investment in space research and infrastructure.

Other recent developments include:

• Westcott Space Hub (Buckinghamshire): A £20 million facility for testing, training, and commercial space projects.
• Airbus Launchpad (Stevenage): A new support centre for small UK space businesses, backed by £3.9 million from the UK Space Agency.
• Magdrive DEEP Lab (Harwell): £1.8 million in funding provides specialist facilities for testing electric propulsion systems, essential for satellites’ manoeuvrability and long-term orbit management.

Milestones for Space Forge

Space Forge has achieved significant milestones in recent years.

In June 2025, it launched ForgeStar®-1, the first British-built in-space manufacturing satellite.

By December 2025, the company successfully generated plasma in orbit, proving that the environment necessary for advanced crystal growth can be achieved aboard commercial spacecraft.

Joshua Western, CEO and Co-Founder of Space Forge, stated: “Being based at CISM gives us access to world-class semiconductor infrastructure and a community of researchers that will accelerate our work in microgravity materials.”

Wales’ Role in the UK Semiconductor Supply Chain

CISM is part of the CSconnected compound semiconductor cluster, Europe’s first, funded with £55 million from UK and Welsh Government investment.

Space Forge’s presence adds momentum to Wales’ position in the UK’s sovereign semiconductor supply chain, focusing on advanced materials such as silicon carbide, gallium nitride, and gallium oxide – crucial for power electronics and radiation-resistant technologies.

Impact and Consequences

The NMRC establishes Wales as a national hub for microgravity-based semiconductor research, attracting high-tech businesses and talent.

It strengthens the UK’s capacity to produce advanced materials domestically, reducing reliance on international supply chains and positioning the country as a leader in next-generation semiconductor manufacturing.

What’s Next?

With the NMRC operational, Space Forge plans to expand its research on microgravity-grown semiconductors.

Other UK space and tech companies may follow suit, using the centre as a springboard for innovation and commercialisation of space-manufactured materials.

Summary

The UK’s first National Microgravity Research Centre at Swansea University opens a new frontier in semiconductor manufacturing.

Backed by public and private investment, the facility bridges space-based material production with terrestrial scaling, strengthens Wales’ semiconductor ecosystem, and signals the UK’s growing ambition in high-tech space manufacturing.

Bulleted Takeaways

• Swansea University hosts the UK’s first National Microgravity Research Centre.
• £13 million project partially funded by the UK Space Agency.
• Space Forge becomes the first incubation client, leveraging a clean room and advanced semiconductor tools.
• Facility bridges space-grown semiconductors with terrestrial scaling.
• Part of the UK Space Agency’s £45.6 million SCIF investment across 13 projects.
• Strengthens Wales and UK’s role in the global semiconductor supply chain.
• Focus on advanced materials like silicon carbide, gallium nitride, and gallium oxide.