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Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE)

GB

Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) is the Scottish Government's economic and community development agency for the Highlands and Islands region, actively supporting the growth of the space industry in the area. HIE's involvement includes the Space Hub Sutherland project, a planned satellite launch site, and supporting the North Coast Space Cluster. They aim to promote sustainable economic growth, job creation, and business development within the space sector, working with various stakeholders to foster a thriving space industry. HIE also engages with companies like Orbex and provides specialist advice through firms like AstroAgency.

commercial
Scotland
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All verified mentions of this organization in source documents.

Highlands and Islands Enterprise and the Scottish Government together contributed a combined £9 million to the Sutherland spaceport project.

FinancialValue 4.0Mar 5, 2026The UK Will Invest £20 Million to Accelerate Spaceport Development in Scotland

The Highlands and Islands Enterprise has expressed deep disappointment at Orbex’s decision to switch launch operations from Sutherland to Shetland and remains committed to working with local people to develop a positive future for Melness and the surrounding area.

PlanGeneralValue 3.0Dec 9, 2024Scotland loses a Spaceport

Highlands and Islands Enterprise and the Scottish government provided £9,000,000in funding for the Sutherland Spaceport project.

FinancialPlanValue 4.0May 9, 2023Construction starts on Orbex Scottish launch site

The public investment package for Sutherland Spaceport includes just over £9 million from Highlands and Islands Enterprise and the Scottish Government and £2.55 million that the UK Space Agency announced in 2018.

FinancialGeneralValue 4.0May 7, 2023Construction starts at Sutherland Spaceport in Scotland

Orbex signed a 50-year sub-lease with Highlands and Islands Enterprise enabling Orbex to direct construction and assume full operational management of the facility on the community-owned Melness Crofters Estate.

RelationshipsPlanGrowthValue 4.0May 7, 2023Construction starts at Sutherland Spaceport in Scotland

Orbex signed an agreement in November 2022 with Highlands and Islands Enterprise for a 10-acre site to build a launch pad capable of hosting up to 12 launches per year.

RelationshipsPlanGrowthCapabilityValue 4.6Apr 14, 2023Orbex CEO resigns

Orbex signed a 50-year sub-lease with Highlands and Islands Enterprise for a spaceport location on community-owned land on the A’ Mhoine peninsula in north-west Sutherland with an option to extend for a further 25 years.

RelationshipsPlanValue 4.7Nov 10, 2022Orbex to Build and Operate First Vertical Launch Site for Satellites in Sutherland

Highlands and Islands Enterprise began developing plans for the Sutherland spaceport in 2018 with specialist input from architects NORR and construction consultants Gardiner and Theobald.

PlanGeneralRelationshipsValue 3.2Nov 10, 2022Orbex to Build and Operate First Vertical Launch Site for Satellites in Sutherland

Melness Crofters’ Estate worked closely with Highlands and Islands Enterprise to develop the spaceport project and deliver local economic benefits.

RelationshipsValue 2.2Nov 10, 2022Orbex to Build and Operate First Vertical Launch Site for Satellites in Sutherland

Highlands and Islands Enterprise began developing plans for the Sutherland spaceport in 2018 with input from architects NORR and construction consultants Gardiner and Theobald.

PlanRelationshipsValue 3.5Nov 3, 2022Orbex’s Sutherland Spaceport readies to lead with construction and operational management

Orbex signed a lease with Highlands and Islands Enterprise for a 10-acre site in the northwestern part of Sutherland county in northern Scotland.

RelationshipsGrowthValue 4.0Nov 1, 2022Orbex to build Scottish launch site

Highlands and Islands Enterprise seeks to create a low-carbon space center at the Sutherland site as part of the planning conditions.

PlanGrowthValue 3.0Jul 24, 2020British government finalizing launch regulations

Highlands and Islands Enterprise announced on 2020-06-26 that a local government committee approved plans for the Sutherland spaceport site, while final approvals by the Scottish government remain pending.

PlanGovernanceValue 3.8Jul 24, 2020British government finalizing launch regulations

Highlands and Islands Enterprise signed a 75-year lease option with landowners Melness Crofters Estate on 2019-08-01 to build and operate a spaceport on that land.

RelationshipsPlanValue 4.5Aug 7, 2019Orbex and Innovative Space Logistics Sign European Space Launch Agreement

On 2019-08-01 Highlands and Islands Enterprise signed a 75-year lease option with the Melness Crofters Estate to build and operate a spaceport on Melness Crofters Estate land.

RelationshipsPlanValue 4.4Aug 7, 2019Orbex and Innovative Space Logistics Sign European Space Launch Agreement

Highlands and Islands Enterprise received $3,300,000 from the British government to start work on the launch site on the A’Mhoine Peninsula.

FinancialPlanGrowthLegalValue 4.0Aug 8, 2018Five decades after Black Arrow, a reawakening UK launch industry aims for bullseye

Highlands and Islands Enterprise committed in principle an additional $13,000,000 to build out the initial spaceport infrastructure on the A’Mhoine Peninsula.

FinancialGrowthValue 4.0Aug 8, 2018Five decades after Black Arrow, a reawakening UK launch industry aims for bullseye

The U.K. Space Agency is providing more than $3,000,000 to Highlands and Islands Enterprise to begin development of the Sutherland launch site.

RelationshipsFinancialPlanValue 4.6Jul 16, 2018Lockheed Martin, Orbex to launch from new British spaceport
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