With the global space economy expected to reach £1.8 trillion in the next ten years, the UK is stepping up as a major pioneer. This year’s UK Space Conference will be hosted in Manchester on 16 – 17 July, welcoming over 2,000 attendees that include government decision-makers, leading researchers, investors, and business leaders from across the world.
Hosted in partnership with the UK Space Agency, under the banner of ‘Space for Growth,’ this year’s conference will focus on new innovations, emerging economic opportunities, and the UK’s capabilities in the industry. The event also marks the first open forum to convene on the highly anticipated Industry Strategy by the UK government, which will be published in the coming weeks and promises to propel further growth for the country’s space sector.
As a long-renowned center of innovation and cutting-edge technology, Manchester is the perfect setting for a conference focused on the growth of one of the country’s most impactful sectors. Moreover, the surrounding region is a powerhouse for world-class research, high-value manufacturing, and a growing space cluster already contributing to national capability.
Crucially, activity in space affects every other sector on Earth: Governments leverage satellite data when planning defence strategies, researchers use Earth Observation for investigating climate change, and we even rely on space technology to connect with our loved ones.
“We are already living in a space age,” said Professor Anu Ojha, Director of Championing Space at the UK Space Agency.
“More than £350 billion of annual UK economic activity, 16% of our total GDP, depends on services from space, such as position, navigation, timing, and communications capabilities supporting our financial, energy distribution, and commercial sectors. With strengths in science, data, manufacturing, and regulation, the UK can attract increasing levels of investment and play a leading role in the global space sector. The challenge is to connect the opportunity to regions, businesses, and people who don’t see themselves as part of this narrative. That’s how we’ll build a space economy that truly works for the whole nation. Growth doesn’t start in space; it comes from the connections we build at events like the UK Space Conference.”
The UK Space Conference 2025 is underlining the centrality of space to other industries’ growth, bringing together innovators and thought leaders from a wide range of sectors to share insight, spark partnerships, and propel growth across the whole economy. Organisations from beyond the space industry are highly encouraged to attend, especially as the rapidly evolving nature of the space economy brings new supply chain opportunities that impact everyone.
“Small and medium-sized enterprises comprise a huge chunk of the UK’s space sector, many of which are at a pivotal stage moving from start-up to scale-up to commercialise innovative technologies. This year’s ‘Space for Growth’ theme is therefore very timely given the current industry landscape. It also reflects a broader momentum of the sector, with job creation and business numbers rising year on year,” added Daniel Smith, Founder and Creative Director of AstroAgency.
“Moreover, ‘growth’ most powerfully captures the opportunity space presents to other industries. Satellite data already underpins 20% of the UK economy and supports approximately 60% of environmental monitoring. Yet its potential stretches far beyond that. Space-derived insights can benefit a wide range of sectors, strengthen our economy, enhance national security, and deliver positive outcomes for society. The greatest opportunity for growth lies in increasing awareness of these benefits and unlocking them for the advantage of all.”
Discussions and panels will also explore the key challenges under the ‘Space for Growth’ theme: Driving long-term economic growth for the UK, building a resilient workforce, creating sustainable value in exploration, and turning national capability into national impact.
The conference’s agenda iterates the importance of collaboration for the future of the UK’s space sector, bringing together government, academia, and industry experts. Core plenary sessions will dive into how space supports critical national priorities, including sustainability, climate science, defence, clean energy, and connectivity. Additional central themes are the UK’s growing role as an innovator in the global space arena, new avenues for commercialisation and investment, and the need to enhance regulations and skills.
