Business

Belfast-based space technology firm 3DEO NI announces major recruitment drive

Announcing the recruitment drive at 3DEO NI are Bill Montgomery, director of advanced manufacturing and engineering at Invest NI and Andy Macpherson, 3DEO NI
Announcing the recruitment drive at 3DEO NI are Bill Montgomery, director of advanced manufacturing and engineering at Invest NI and Andy Macpherson, 3DEO NI Announcing the recruitment drive at 3DEO NI are Bill Montgomery, director of advanced manufacturing and engineering at Invest NI and Andy Macpherson, 3DEO NI

A BELFAST-based space technology firm is creating 33 jobs as part of a major expansion into global markets.

3DEO NI, which combines technologies from immersive 3D, financial services and earth observation to present and interact with data in a new way, is creating the highly skilled roles over the next four years, with half already in place. It is currently recruiting specialist IT professionals, in graduate and experienced roles, with jobs including; space system engineers, satellite data consultants and business development roles.

Once filled, the jobs, will generate an additional £1.5m a year in salaries for the local economy and will support the company as it prepares to commercialise unique space technology applications.

3DEO's technology is based on earth observation data and is used across a variety of sectors, from defence to disaster risk management and food security to financial markets insight. The company uses Newry-headquartered, First Derivatives' Kx technology for its high value earth observation.

Andy Macpherson from 3DEO NI, said the latest investment will help support the company's growing ambition.

“Earth observation data has the potential to offer advantageous insight for a range of sectors.

“We are working towards developing products and solutions that will enable better informed, real-time decision making in the future for defence, governments and the civic markets."

Invest NI has offered 3DEO NI over £700,000 to support its development and recruitment activities. Invest NI director of advanced manufacturing and engineering, Bill Montgomery said 3DEO is a unique business, operating in a "highly innovative" technology area.

"It is one of the first companies in Northern Ireland to embark on a significant investment as the result of opportunities that will flow out of the space sector.

“Supporting this project aligns with our strategy to become a globally recognised region for space sector innovation and creativity. 3DEO NI is working towards positioning itself to capitalise on the new global opportunities that space can enable.”

The UK Space Agency has been set the target of quadrupling UK revenues to £40bn by 2032 and has acknowledged this can only be achieved by the entry of new companies, such as 3DEO into the sector.