FOI/202400409517 · FOI · partially withheld
Mangata Networks and Mangata Network Satellite Services: FOI release
Information requested
Information to/from Scottish Government pertaining to Mangata Networks and Mangata Network Satellite Services between 2021 and 16th April 2024.
How much did Mangata commit to spend, how much did they actually spend? How much did SNIB, Scottish Enterprise and Scottish Government each commit to spend and how much was actually spent? What meetings were held between Government officials and please supply Agenda and Minutes for these meetings? What impact will this have on @ScotGov space ambitions and on Prestwick Airport?
Response
Scottish Enterprise agreed a commercial deal, that was announced on 6th February 2022, with Mangata Networks to base its satellite manufacturing, space systems and core network operations in Scotland.
The deal comprised a funding package of £54.5 million from Scottish Enterprise and £29.2 million from the Ayrshire Growth Deal through the Prestwick Commercial Build Project. The Prestwick Commercial Build Project comprised funding of £12 million from the Scottish Government, £10 million from the UK Government and £7 million from South Ayrshire Council. The Scottish National Investment Bank were not involved in this project.
In return for this investment, the company were expected to create up to 575 new jobs, supply chain opportunities and in line with the commercial terms of the deal, this funding would have been repaid over 15 years.
I am unable to provide the requested figure on actual spend incurred at this time, whilst there remain live and ongoing commercial discussions between Scottish Enterprise, Mangata and collective delivery partners.
The Scottish Government met Mangata representatives on two occasions between 2021 and 16th April 2024. I have included copies of the relevant agenda and minutes from these meetings in the separate annex.
The Scottish Government remains committed to the development of the space sector as a key economic opportunity, recognised within the National Strategy for Economic Transformation, the Inward Investment Plan, and most recently the National Innovation Strategy.
Scotland has key strengths in satellite manufacturing and downstream data applications and services, leading academic institutions and will soon possess launch capability that will provide Scotland with the full end-to-end value chain for small satellites, a unique position across Europe.
Ayrshire can continue to play a significant role going forward as a major cluster of aerospace activity, and the Scottish Government remains committed to supporting the region’s aerospace and space sectors as part of our £103 million investment in the Ayrshire Growth Deal.
While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance we are unable to provide some the information you have requested because exemptions under sections s.30 (b) (free and frank advice), s.33(1)(b) (commercial interest) and s.38(1)(b) (personal information) of FOISA applies to that information. The reasons why that exemption(s) applies are explained in the Annex to this letter.
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Detected exemption language
While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance we are unable to provide some the information you have requested because exemptions under sections s.30 (b) (free and frank advice), s.33(1)(b) (commercial interest) and s.38(1)(b) (personal information) of FOISA applies to that information. The reasons why that exemption(s) applies are explained in the Annex to this letter.