Oxfordshire’s Satellite Applications Catapult forms part of new Space Partnership

A new Space Partnership is being launched in the UK with the aim of growing the country’s space sector, working towards the government’s national space strategy.

Drawing on expertise from the entire space ecosystem, the new partnership will collaborate to support the development and delivery of space policy in the UK.

It builds on a previous National Space Partnership Pilot which ran until March 2022 along with the work of the Space Growth Partnership which has been running since 2016.

The pilot found that a successful space policy and the resulting economic growth depend on a model that is comprehensive, consistent, and incorporates expertise and knowledge from the entire industry and country.

With the space industry regularly and rapidly changing, it requires the Space Partnership to engage with a broader audience in order to further the UK's space ambitions.

The Space Directorate of the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and the National Space Board have been created to allow the government to collaborate with other industry stakeholders through the Space Partnership to meet the goals of the National Space Strategy.

The Space Partnership Director will lead a small team of independent experts along with secondees from the sector, which will be co-funded by the UK Space Agency and hosted by the Satellite Applications Catapult.

Graham Peters, Board Chair, Space Partnership said: “The UK’s Space sector was transformed when government, industry and academia together developed the space Innovation Growth Strategy in 2010.

“I am delighted that this collaboration can now move to a new footing with a properly resourced core team working across the sector to support the implementation of the UK’s first National Space Strategy.”

Minister for Science, Research and Innovation George Freeman said: “Our £16.5bn space sector delivers huge benefits to the UK’s economy and society, and to ensure we deliver the key ambition of our National Space Strategy – to grow an innovative commercial space industry – it is essential that the space community works collaboratively across the whole sector; bringing together researchers, policymakers, small companies and industry.

“Our £1.5m funding for the Space Partnership through the UK Space Agency is a sign of our commitment to build a broader UK space sector, drawing on expertise across companies – big and small – in the industry to seize the many opportunities ahead.”

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Dr Paul Bate, Chief Executive of the UK Space Agency, said: “The UK has a thriving space sector, which is well-established and globally respected, employing 47,000 people and generating an annual income of £16.5 billion. We are committed to growing this exciting sector further by catalysing investment, delivering missions and capabilities and championing space.

“We’re backing the Space Partnership that brings together government, industry and academia to work together for the benefit of the sector as a whole and deliver the ambitions set out in the National Space Strategy.”

Stuart Martin, CEO, Satellite Applications Catapult said: “The Space Partnership fills a vital gap in the UK space landscape, providing continuous access to independent, cross-sector expertise on space policy.

“It will ensure that the whole sector is engaged in informing policy makers, capturing all the strengths and opportunities the sector has to offer. The Catapult is pleased to be supporting the Space Partnership, and we look forward to seeing the difference it can make at this exciting time for the industry.”

Prof. Mark Sims (University of Leicester) co-chair of SPAN, on behalf of co-chair Prof. Kate Robson Brown (University of Bristol), said: “The Space Partnership will enable the sector to work on policy and topics that are of great importance to academia, industry and Government enabling a consensus on areas of strategic importance following inputs from all elements of the sector.

“Academia via the Space Academic Network (SPAN) is very happy to support the Space Partnership, providing an academic input and view, and participate in this important work to achieve the National Space Strategy and the sector’s objectives and growth.”

John Hanley, Chair of UKspace said: “The UK’s space industry has benefited from working in close partnership with Government and the research base. We welcome the creation of the Space Partnership which will build upon these foundations and put real resources behind this collaborative approach.

“The Space Partnership will be an important mechanism to ensure industrial involvement in shaping the next steps towards delivery of the National Space Strategy.”

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