About me:

Grant began his role as Ambassador for Southwest England and Wales in late 2022 and has a background in academic-industry partnerships and technology transfer. He has an extensive portfolio of projects in cybersecurity, autonomous transport and industrial applications of data science.

Grant has a sustained record of developing relationships with partners of all sizes and types to identify and initiate opportunities that address business and societal challenges. For many companies this has been their first approach to innovation funding, and Grant’s professional coaching has enabled them to scope and design projects, generate compelling applications and ensure that the companies’ ambitions are achieved.

What is the most notable achievement that you had so far?

While relatively new to the role, one notable achievement has been to influence the Space Wales Leadership Council in their evolution of their strategy ‘Wales: A Sustainable Space Nation’. Grant helped the Council recognise the multiple facets to sustainability and the opportunity that space-derived data and downstream services offer in the development of solutions that provide both sustainability and prosperity.

The networks in which Grant is most active are:

• Cornwall Space Cluster
• Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Data and Space Steering Group
• The Collaborative Research and Innovation Support Programme (CRISP)
• Southwest Aerospace and Space Network (SWAN)
• Space Wales & Space Wales Leadership Council

These networks are excellent vehicles for disseminating current and upcoming ESA Space Solutions opportunities, offering the chance to work with regional stakeholders to identify companies that could benefit and to influence regional strategies.

In Southwest England and Wales, ESA Business Applications has identified the following sectors for prioritisation:

• Clean Energy
• Environmental Intelligence
• Natural Capital
• Marine & Maritime
• Intelligent Transport

The growing offshore renewable sector in the region, expedited through the floating offshore wind prospects in the Celtic Sea, and supporting supply chain is a key focus that aligns with many of these priority sectors.