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Nature 444, 804-805 (14 December 2006) | doi:10.1038/444804a; Published online 13 December 2006

Open Innovation Challenges

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A spin-off from a UK university has established a solid niche as a leading supplier of microsatellites. But taking the company to the next level is a challenge. Geoff Brumfiel reports.

The phrase 'mission control centre' may conjure up images of banks of NASA engineers pondering giant display screens in Houston, Texas. But at Surrey Satellite Technology, southwest of London, mission control is a modest affair.