Scientists developing space technology on the Lizard Peninsula have been given almost £1 million to look further into artificial intelligence.

Goonhilly Satellite Earth Station has been awarded £996,817 from the Government's ‘Getting Building Fund' for its new Cornwall Institute for Space AI and Receiver Factory.

The fund is aimed at pushing on projects that will help local areas recover from the impact of Covid-19.

Goonhilly is working with the University of Oxford, University of Manchester, University of Leeds and University of Hertfordshire on the institute.

It will include space for companies to come and use the facilities at Goonhilly and work with the team on ideas.

The idea is that the mathematics involved in a number of fields, including radio astronomy, artificial intelligence and machine learning, are closely connected and so the team is using members' skills in each area to apply algorithms developed in one field to solve problems in another.

Read next: Technology at Goonhilly can be used to predict the future

Meanwhile the Receiver Factory is an advanced manufacturing facility that can be used to develop Goonhilly's own equipment, to make sure its services are at the leading edge of technology, and also to build products to print for third parties.

Scientists combine their knowledge of space communications, antenna design, electronics and software and mechanical engineering to develop advanced products for space communication and other related markets.

MP Derek Thomas said that Goonhilly continued to be recognised by the Government as "not just an important asset in space exploration and communication in the UK, but worldwide."

He said: “This is further great news for investment in Cornwall’s economy and for Goonhilly, with an opportunity to maintain and develop its space ambitions on an international scale.

Read next: Space industry 'could add £1 billion to Cornwall'

“Raising the profile of Goonhilly since becoming first elected and introducing Ministers to the site and those hard at work at the site has been a privilege.

"Their far reaching aspirations to reach for the stars are being realised."

Goonhilly is using the world’s first supercomputer purpose-built for enterprise AI and deep learning in its work.

One of the long-term goals in a space strategy drawn up for the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Enterprise Partnership is for Goonhilly to be the "primary operations centre for UK endeavours to Moon and Mars, for space resource mining and for supporting UK sovereign missions”.

Last July Goonhilly opened a new date centre at its base on Goonhilly Downs, with the goal being to create a UK hub for artificial intelligence and machine learning that could be a marketplace for new technology and allow academics and scientists to collaborate and share ideas.

Goonhilly has also joined the Inception programme run by American technology company NVIDIA, which is designed for businesses that are transforming different industries by making advancements in artificial intelligence and data sciences.

The station has been given Enterprise Zone status by the Government - its flagship programme for technology parks.