UK, Guildford, 17 November 2020 – Clutch Space Systems announced as a winner in the first International Space Pitch Day innovation competition and awarded a phase 1 contract valued £52,380.
Clutch Space was one of just 10 tech start-ups and innovative companies from across the world to successfully secure same-day contracts to fast-track the development of their innovations after pitching direct to UK, US and NATO military leaders.
Air Vice-Marshal Harvey Smyth, UK Director Space, unveiled the winners following an afternoon of pitches in front of a global audience during the first day of the Defence Space Conference hosted from London.
Air Vice-Marshal Smyth said: “Congratulations to the winners and all those that took part in the first International Space Pitch Day – it has captured the imagination of innovators and militaries not just across the UK and US, but all over the world. It has achieved several world firsts and we look forward to building on its success as we seek to fast-track innovation and cutting-edge technology to the front line quicker than ever before with fresh ways of working with industry to make sure we stay ahead of our shared adversaries and the threats they pose.”
It is the first time two nations anywhere in the world have come together to award defence contracts based around a pitch-style event, similar to Dragon’s Den/Shark Tank. It is also the first time two nations have awarded joint defence innovation contracts to an overseas-based enterprise in this way. And it is the first time same-day contracts have been awarded in this way to industry by the UK Ministry of Defence.
Martin Philp, CEO Clutch Space said: “We are absolutely delighted to have been able to develop this winning proposal with our partner borwell. This contract will enable Clutch Space to further showcase our software defined solutions for the ground segment of space to the UK MoD as well as our allies and we anticipate extending this tool to other defence units and commands in Phase 2 and beyond.”
Clutch Space was among fifteen proposals from tech start-ups and innovators who battled it out to win funding by pitching to UK, US and NATO military leaders after being selected to take part in International Space Pitch Day from scores of entries from across the world.
ISPD Winning pitch team – Melanie Redding (L), Ricky D’Costa (R)
Clutch Space Systems teamed with borwell, the visualisation and machine learning specialists, to design a tool called Space Resources Operational Availability Tool (SROAT).
The tool will be provided to operators to enable efficient and autonomous utilisation and assessment of the space assets for planning, and during operations. A prototype will include weather forecast interfaces, and orbit propagation, provide the satellite and payload simulations, automated mission planning code to support advanced queries, and provide the visualisation and AI modules.
Read the official Government announcement here: //www.gov.uk/government/news/winners-of-international-space-pitch-day-revealed