Space Technology Exploitation

TopSat (Credit: Qinetiq)

Our aim is to oversee and encourage the exploitation of RAL Space technical and scientific expertise and its Intellectual Property (IP) outside the Research Council.

Technology Exploitation allows us to maintain a larger and more comprehensive skill base to ensure that the level of resources and broad base of expertise within the department is maintained for the benefit of the Research Councils, academia and industry.

Technology Exploitation also includes the licensing of RAL Space IP and in some cases the spinning out of new businesses. This activity is done in collaboration with STFC Innovations Ltd (link opens in a new window)the company set up by STFC to manage its IP base.

A spin out of our technology led to the company ThruVision Systems (link opens in a new window), which exploits the unique properties of THz imaging for a range of applications. The company is building on the world-class heritage of RAL Space which has an unrivalled reputation in the field of exquisitely sensitive detectors of Terahertz radiation.

A series of successful cameras have been designed and built by RAL Space for both the home and overseas market. The launch of the TopSat mission in 2005 flying the RALCam 1, a 2.5 m high resolution camera led to growing interest in low cost high resolution camera technology. MDA (link opens in a new window) has an exclusive licence from RAL to sell this range of low cost camera.