Scottish space sector boost as Edinburgh avionics innovator expands

Scotland’s space technology sector has received a fresh boost after a fledgling avionics developer unveiled plans to expand in Edinburgh.

Aurora Avionics, which was founded in 2023, has relocated its headquarters and research operations to the Edinburgh Innovation Hub, a new facility designed to support high-growth science and technology businesses requiring specialist laboratory space.

The move comes as the firm builds momentum following a series of European contracts and fresh investment designed to accelerate the development of next-generation launch vehicle technology.

Aurora Avionics has relocated to the Edinburgh Innovation Hub, above.

Co-founder Oren Smith Carpenter said the business was at a pivotal moment as it develops advanced avionics systems designed to power the next generation of space missions.

“This move gives us the facilities we need to scale our work at exactly the right moment for the company,” he said.

“We are building universal avionics systems that allow launch providers to operate more efficiently, more reliably and at lower cost. Having access to the right laboratory environment and technical infrastructure is vital as we continue developing that technology.”

He added: “We are still at an early stage in our journey, but the opportunities ahead are enormous.”

The firm designs and develops the electronic control systems that allow spacecraft and launch vehicles to operate safely in extreme environments. Often described as the nervous system of a rocket or spacecraft, these avionics control guidance, navigation and data monitoring during missions.

The company has already secured backing from several investors, including Gabriel and Scottish Enterprise, as part of a £320,000 funding round that is supporting its early growth. That investment has enabled Aurora Avionics to expand its workforce, recruit specialist engineers and continue developing its core technologies.

The move into a larger research facility will allow the team to accelerate product development while supporting new partnerships across the European space industry.

Marian McNeil, chief executive of Edinburgh Innovation Hub, said: “It is fantastic to see ambitious companies like Aurora Avionics choosing to base their operations here.

“The Edinburgh Innovation Hub was created to support high-growth science and technology businesses that need specialist facilities to develop their ideas, and it is exciting to see that environment already helping companies expand.”