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Filtronic Secures Further US Contract as Space Communications Demand Continues to Grow

Filtronics new facility at NETPark (Credit: Filrtonic)

Space North East England member Filtronic has secured a further £400,000 contract with a US customer, reinforcing the growing international demand for it’s specialist communications technologies.

The agreement follows an earlier £6 million contract with the same customer and marks another positive milestone for one of the region’s leading space and telecommunications businesses.

Headquartered at NETPark, Filtronic specialises in advanced radio frequency (RF) technologies that support applications across satellite communications, telecommunications and aerospace markets. The latest contract will see the company supply satellite communications equipment to its US customer, further strengthening its position in a rapidly expanding global market.

The announcement highlights the increasing opportunities available to companies operating within the space and satellite communications sector. As demand for satellite connectivity, data services and next-generation communications infrastructure continues to grow worldwide, businesses with specialist expertise are finding new routes to international markets.

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North East Space Conference Highlights Region’s Growing Investment Opportunity

A woman giving a presentation

The North East Space Conference 2026 demonstrated the growing strength and ambition of the region’s space sector, bringing together more than 350 delegates from industry, academia, government and the investment community to explore future opportunities for growth, collaboration and inward investment.

Opened by North East Mayor Kim McGuinness, the conference highlighted the increasing role the sector is playing in driving innovation, attracting investment and creating high-value jobs across the region.

Hosted by Space North East England at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Durham, the conference focused on a clear ambition: converting the North East’s growing reputation for innovation into increased national and international investment.

While the region’s space sector has developed steadily over the past decade, this year’s event reflected growing confidence that the North East is now positioned to play a much larger role in the UK’s space economy.

A key theme throughout the conference was the strength of the North East’s wider industrial ecosystem and the opportunities this creates for businesses both within and beyond the traditional space sector.

As space technologies become increasingly important to communications, defence, manufacturing and environmental monitoring, opportunities are emerging for companies with capabilities that can be applied across multiple markets. Discussions highlighted how businesses operating in advanced manufacturing, cyber security, artificial intelligence, engineering and defence can diversify into the rapidly growing space economy.

The conference also highlighted the significant supply chain opportunities emerging across the sector. Lockheed Martin’s £100 million proposal to build its UK satellite manufacturing facility at NETPark in County Durham demonstrates growing confidence in the capability of regions such as the North East to support globally significant space activity.

The region is well positioned to capitalise on this growth thanks to its concentration of advanced manufacturing and technology businesses, supported by world-class research and skills assets. Organisations including Durham University’s Space Research Centre (SPARC), Northumbria University’s North East Space Skills and Technology Centre (NESST) and New College Durham’s North East Institute of Technology are helping to develop the talent and innovation pipeline required to support future demand.

Growing links between the space and defence sectors were another key talking point. As satellite technologies become increasingly important to national security and resilient communications, collaboration between the two sectors continues to strengthen.

County Durham is already home to a number of companies operating across both markets, including NETPark-based businesses such as Filtronic, Kromek, RED Scientific and Graphene Composites. Their expertise in advanced materials, semiconductors, communications and defence technologies aligns closely with future space sector requirements.

Alongside innovation and skills, the conference reinforced the North East’s wider proposition for new businesses moving to the region. Businesses can access specialist facilities, connect to strong digital connectivity, a highly skilled workforce and, importantly, the space required to grow and scale.

Speaking after the event, Lisa Mullen, Cluster Director for Space North East England, said: “The North East has established a strong reputation for collaboration, innovation and manufacturing excellence. This year’s conference demonstrated the growing interest from investors and industry leaders who recognise the opportunities our region offers.”

The conference reinforced a clear message: the North East’s space sector is no longer an emerging opportunity. It is becoming an increasingly important contributor to the UK’s space ambitions and a compelling destination for investment, innovation and growth.

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North East Space Conference highlights region’s growing investment opportunity

A man giving a presentation

The North East Space Conference 2026 demonstrated the growing strength and ambition of the region’s space sector, bringing together more than 350 delegates from industry, academia, government and the investment community to explore future opportunities for growth, collaboration and inward investment.

Opened by North East Mayor Kim McGuinness, the conference highlighted the increasing role the sector is playing in driving innovation, attracting investment and creating high-value jobs across the region.

Hosted by Space North East England at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Durham, the conference focused on a clear ambition: converting the North East’s growing reputation for innovation into increased national and international investment.

While the region’s space sector has developed steadily over the past decade, this year’s event reflected growing confidence that the North East is now positioned to play a much larger role in the UK’s space economy.

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Business growth fund generates £40m

A group of people at Magnitude Biosciences

A fund designed to increase business growth in County Durham has attracted £40 million of investment in less than a decade.

Durham County Council’s Cabinet will be given an update on the Finance Durham Fund (FDF) which provides loans to help the growth of county-based businesses and attract new companies to the region.

First launched in 2017, and administered by Maven Capital Partners on behalf of the council, the evergreen fund uses the returns on investments to re-invest into other businesses to support economic growth in the county.

In an update to Cabinet, councillors will hear that there have been 58 investments into 38 companies, totalling £17.29 million, since the fund was first launched.

This £17.29 million has levered an additional £40 million of investment, supporting nearly 1,500 jobs with a Gross Value Added (GVA) impact of £44 million.

In addition to business loans, the fund also provides ‘access to finance’ business support, helping businesses increase their capabilities and skills to grow and thrive.

Cllr Joe Quinn, Durham County Council’s Cabinet member for planning, investment and assets, said: “The impact that the Finance Durham Fund has facilitated in just a few years demonstrates the value that the fund brings to the county’s economy.

“At a time when public funding for business support grants is likely to be in shorter supply, the Finance Durham Fund will play an even more important role in supporting the growth of our county’s enterprises. It also provides a key investment incentive that sets us apart from other competitor locations, helping to attract more companies to the area.”

Councillors will be told that the fund has played an important role in developing the county’s economy by investing in sectors that are at the forefront of innovation.

Examples include Power Roll Ltd, which produces a low cost, low weight solar film; Dyer Engineering, which is the largest independently owned engineering company in the county; Pragmatic Semiconductor, which opened the UK’s first 300mm semiconductor fabrication site in Meadowfield; and NETPark companies Magnitude Biosciences and PervasID.

Despite a challenging environment for businesses and global economic uncertainty in recent years, enquiries for the fund remain strong.

Councillors will hear the fund has £3.7 million ready to award to businesses, with several potential deals totalling over £2 million currently under consideration.

Cabinet will be given a full update on the fund and be asked to agree to receiving an annual update when it meets on Wednesday 22 April.

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Leading technology firm announces NETPark expansion

Pictured, from left to right, are Torquil Gundlach, SEEDS' Argonaut Programme head; Peter Chalder-Wood, SEEDS' head of strategic partnerships; Sara Williams, NETPark manager; Councillor Joe Quinn; and Christian Pape, Business Durham property director

A pioneering technology company at one of the region’s leading science parks has announced a major expansion.

Engineered graphene technology firm SEEDS will be moving into a new dedicated facility at NETPark, as part of Durham County Council’s £100 million expansion of the site.

Taking on the new unit will enable SEEDS to move from research development to commercial production, positioning the company to supply its advanced graphene technology to major international manufacturers across the global aerospace, energy, semiconductors, and automotive sectors.

The growth of industry-leading science and technology companies like SEEDS has been enabled by the expansion of NETPark, which now offers an increased capacity of more than 285,000 square feet of flexible, high-specification laboratory and advanced manufacturing space.

With the expanded site now fully operational, it is expected to create 1,250 skilled jobs on site and contribute £625 million to the local economy over the next decade.

Cllr Joe Quinn, Durham County Council’s Cabinet member for planning, investment and assets, said: “SEEDS’ expansion at NETPark reflects the critical role County Durham plays in the UK’s advanced manufacturing landscape. We have outstanding, state-of-the-art space for laboratories and manufacturing facilities, ready now and unique in the North East.

“We are delighted to support SEEDS’ growth and would urge any expanding business looking for purpose-built, modern facilities to come and see the exceptional offer we have here at NETPark.”

SEEDS’ growth reflects the strength of NETPark’s innovation. Working alongside the Centre for Process Innovation (CPI), Durham University and Business Durham, the company has transformed groundbreaking research into a commercially scalable process.

CPI has been a key partner in this journey, helping the company test and refine its ideas and providing the support needed to move SEEDS from early research into practical, scalable production.

The company’s partnership with Mitsui is also now helping to accelerate its commercial reach. SEEDS formally signed its agreement with Mitsui in November, and the collaboration is already enabling introductions to major microelectronics manufacturers and opening access to global markets that would otherwise take much longer to reach.

Jason Chehal, founder of SEEDS, said: “This expansion marks an important moment for SEEDS, as it allows us to move from research excellence to genuine commercial readiness. Over the past decade we’ve worked to understand how to engineer graphene in a way that solves real-world challenges, not just in the lab but at industrial scale. Moving into our new space at NETPark means we can now begin building the customer-specific systems that global industries are asking for, from microelectronics and energy storage to aerospace, automotive, IoT and even space technologies.

“We’ve reached a point where the technology is proven, the demand is clear, and the partnerships are in place. With CPI’s long-standing support, Mitsui opening doors internationally, and a world-class ecosystem here at NETPark, we’re able to accelerate into the next phase. What excites me most is that every reactor we build here can directly support a leading manufacturer somewhere in the world. It’s not just growth for our company, it’s an opportunity to demonstrate what can be achieved from County Durham on the global stage.

“This next chapter is about readiness, scale and impact. We’re proud to be expanding here, and proud that the work we are doing in the North East has the potential to influence the future of advanced materials worldwide.”

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Filtronic shortlisted for Technology Company of the Year at SmallCap Awards

Filtronic awards trophy

A leading North East technology firm based at NETPark is celebrating fresh recognition after being shortlisted for a major industry award.

Filtronic has been named as a finalist for Technology Company of the Year at the SmallCap Awards — marking a second consecutive year of recognition after taking home the title in 2025.

The shortlisting follows what the company describes as an “exceptional year” of progress, underpinned by continued innovation and commercial success.

Over the past 12 months, Filtronic has advanced its technology roadmap with the launch of several new products, including Prometheus, Cerus 32 V and its DIFI technology. These developments further strengthen the company’s position in high-performance RF and mmWave technology — sectors that are increasingly critical to applications such as telecommunications, aerospace and defence.

Alongside product innovation, the company has secured a series of significant contract wins and strategic developments. These milestones not only demonstrate growing demand for Filtronic’s solutions but also reflect the strength of its long-standing customer relationships.

The latest recognition from the SmallCap Awards highlights both the company’s technical leadership and its continued momentum within the industry.

Filtronic has thanked the awards organisers and congratulated the other shortlisted companies, adding that it remains proud of its team’s achievements and optimistic about the year ahead.