20 June 2016 – Oxford Space Systems picked up the Innovation Award at this year’s Oxfordshire Business Awards held on 17 June 2016.

Byron Byrne, Director, The Oxford Science Park, who sponsored and presented the award said: “Deserved congratulations go to Oxford Space Systems on its success. As a small, venture capital-backed start-up, competing in the international space industry, its focused on the exciting area of novel deployable structures. The judges were impressed by the three main areas of innovation that underpin the business, and the fact the company has closed two successful fund raising rounds. Its business has grown from a standing start in September 2013 to 16 employees, and has a number of R&D contracts along with supply contracts. Led by a charismatic serial entrepreneur, Mike Lawton, the business has already been awarded several national awards for engineering, as well as the Oxfordshire Business Awards 2014 New Business Award.”

OSS was up against two other innovative county finalists in the Innovation Award category: Gusto Telecom Solutions and Zeta Specialist Lighting.

Mike Lawton, founder & CEO of Oxford Space Systems, said: “We’re really proud to win the OBA’s 2016 Innovation Award. OSS is attracting global interest in its technology, so the award was a great opportunity to raise the profile of the growing UK space industry – and the noises the UK is making in the global space market.

“The award allows us the opportunity to highlight the fact we’re on course to set two industry records: next month we’ll be in orbit with a new piece of technology: as well setting a record for product development time, our AstroTubeTM boom represents the world’s longest retractable boom system for a micro-satellite. And all developed here in Oxfordshire.”