Clutch Space Systems Ltd has been selected as one of just ten global winners of the inaugural International Space Pitch Day, a pioneering joint venture between the U.S. and the U.K. designed to find, fund and fast-track innovation that could benefit the two nations’ military endeavours in space.

The competition, open to innovators and entrepreneurs worldwide, involved pitches to UK, US and NATO military leaders. Clutch Space Systems was awarded a contract to develop a tool to enable efficient and autonomous utilisation and assessment of space assets for planning, and during operations.

The International Space Pitch Day was jointly funded by the U.S. Air Force and the U.K.’s Defence Science and Technology Laboratory and the British Royal Air Force. It is the first time two nations anywhere in the world have come together to award defence contracts based around a pitch-style event.

Vice-Marshal Harvey Smyth, the U.K.’s Director for Military Space and Air said, “International Space Pitch Day has captured the imagination of innovators and militaries not just across the UK and US, but all over the world. We seek to fast-track innovation and cutting-edge technology to the front line quicker than ever before.”

The contract opens up a wealth of opportunities and connections for Clutch Space Systems which launched at Surrey Research Park’s business incubator, SETsquared Surrey in 2018.