Space West Newsletter - May 2025

The British Interplanetary Society (BIS) invites you to the International Space Forum 2025, taking place on Saturday 31 May at BIS HQ in London and online. This global event is a platform for sharing insights, challenges, and progress across international space activities—from national programmes to cross-border collaborations. 

The Forum explores a wide range of themes, including: The interdependence of global space programmes. Public-private collaboration across the sector. Emerging technologies, standards, and policy developments. Legal, regulatory, and security considerations. Space education, societal impacts, and spin-out innovations.

The Call for Abstracts is still open—submit yours to [email protected] to be part of the programme.

On Tuesday 3rd June, the Royal Society will host a one-day conference exploring the UK’s evolving role in the global space sector. Part of the Transforming our Future series, this event will spotlight how space technologies are increasingly integrated into everyday life—fueling innovation across industries and shaping the future of science, security, and sustainability. 

The conference will bring together voices from industry, academia, government, and beyond, offering insights into: The cross-sector impact of space technologies. Cutting-edge developments and emerging capabilities. The UK’s place in the global space landscape.

From May to September 2025, the CySpace Connected Capability Network (CCN) is hosting regional workshops across the UK to identify key space domain awareness and cyber capabilities and mapping them to a national Requirements Catalogue. The events will bring together industry, academia, and government to strengthen resilience of UK space infrastructure.

The next events (Belfast, 3rd June and Cheltenham, 5th June) are coming up soon, so be sure to register your interest before it’s too late!

Each workshop will be a valuable opportunity to connect with experts, contribute insights, and help shape the future of secure space operations. 

Organised by His Majesty’s Government’s Department for Business and Trade (DBT) and ADS, the UK Supplier Discovery Tour at the Paris Air Show offers international aerospace and defence customers a chance to meet UK-based suppliers. This business development initiative will showcase UK capabilities spanning early-stage innovations to fully developed systems across civil aerospace, space, and defence. Confirmed and prospective international customers include Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Airbus, Embraer, GE, and RTX. Participating UK companies will be featured in a UK Capability Brochure to help customers select potential partners for one-on-one meetings during the show. 

The University of Bath's Department of Physics is hosting Eureka 2025! Physics for Security, a three-day international conference from 7 to 9 July 2025 at the Apex City of Bath Hotel. This event aims to unite academia, industry, and stakeholders such as fund managers, scientific editors, and policymakers to discuss emerging sciences and nascent technologies with significant potential. Topics will include specialty optical fibres, quantum photonics, two-dimensional materials, functional and quantum devices, lasers, nano and photonic platforms, sensing technologies, and biosensing methods. The conference will feature talks, poster sessions, an industrial exhibition, and social events like a trip to Stonehenge and a welcome dinner. Subsidised tickets are available, and registration is required by 31 May 2025.

The Defence Simulation, Education & Training (DSET) conference is scheduled from 8 to 10 July 2025 in Bristol, UK. This hybrid event offers a platform for military, government, academia, and industry professionals to collaborate on advancements in military simulation and training. The agenda includes a Wargaming Festival, specialist seminars, and the British Army Security & Cyber Conference. Attendees can participate in person or virtually, with registration required.

The UK’s flagship space sector event returns this summer, bringing together leaders from government, industry, and academia to explore the future of space innovation, defence, and research. With the theme “Space for Growth”, the conference will highlight the expanding role of space in driving economic renewal and technological advancement.

Attendees can expect keynote sessions, interactive workshops, and enhanced networking opportunities designed to foster collaboration across the sector. The event will also feature a post-conference report summarising key insights and commitments.

Tickets are now on sale, with discounted rates available for students and small businesses. Sponsorship and exhibition opportunities are available for organisations looking to engage with the space community. 

*Space West will be at stall B6. Feel free to drop by and say hello!*

The University of Bristol’s Impact Development Team are hosting a challenge-led event on Thursday 11th September from 9.30am-2pm that will explore collaborations on AI for Climate and Environment as solutions for transport, energy, climate hazards and resilience, as well as the sustainability of AI.

The event offers you the opportunity to: Hear about key challenges and opportunities from a panel of sector experts. Network with University of Bristol researchers and other external stakeholders. Develop a scoping or proof of concept project proposal (up to £10K) with a University of Bristol researcher, funded by the University’s UKRI Impact Acceleration Accounts. 

This event will be hosted at their newest research hub driving responsible digital transformation, part of the new Bristol Temple Quarter Enterprise Campus. 

If you'd like to attend, complete this event expression of interest form by Friday 11th July.  

ESA Phi-Lab UK is now accepting applications for its next round, with a deadline of 31 July 2025. Open to private companies, research institutions, and academic teams, this programme is designed to accelerate disruptive technologies with strong commercial potential in space and environmental sustainability. 

Applicants must align their proposals with one or more of Phi-Lab UK’s three focus areas: Combatting climate change through space-based innovation. Making space more sustainable (e.g. debris mitigation, in-orbit servicing). Enhancing Space Domain Awareness (SDA).

The UK Space Agency Accelerator is back and ready to support the UK’s most ambitious entrepreneurs looking to grow in the space sector. Delivered in partnership with Entrepreneurial Spark and Exotopic, this expanded programme offers tailored support across three unique tracks—Explore, Leo, and Geo—designed to meet businesses at different stages of their space journey. 

Whether you're running an established space company, launching a new start-up, or working in a related field like engineering, manufacturing, or even agriculture, the Accelerator can help you uncover and seize space-enabled opportunities to fuel your growth. 

From hands-on business support to expert mentoring, this is a chance to turn bold ideas into commercial success in one of the UK’s most exciting and rapidly evolving sectors. 

The European Space Agency (ESA) offers funding for six-month feasibility studies known as 'Kick-Starts'. ESA will fund 75% of each Kick-Start project, up to €75,000 per contract. These studies can lead to larger-scale projects and pilots. Current opportunities include:

• Space for Urban and Peri-Urban Agriculture: Funding for teams developing services integrating technology solutions for smart cities and urban agriculture.
• Space Supporting Environmental Claims: Funding for teams developing services that provide support and evidence for environmental claims and labeling.
• Space for Insurance Technology: Funding for teams developing services integrating technology solutions for the insurance sector.

The European Space Agency (ESA) plans to issue an invitation to tender for the European Launcher Challenge next week. This initiative aims to strengthen Europe's independent access to space by supporting new entrants in the launcher sector. Companies are required to co-fund their proposals. Bids will be evaluated around midyear, with contracts expected after ESA's ministerial meeting in November 2025.

West of England Combined Authority are supporting businesses in the region to explore the benefits from the implementation of digital technologies. Providing access to grant funding, bespoke expertise and guidance for your business as well as skills and training.

The South West Investment Fund is the first in a series of new Nations and Regions Investment Funds being launched by the British Business Bank, and it will deliver a £200 million commitment of new funding to the area. The fund aims to drive sustainable economic growth by supporting innovation and creating local opportunity for new and growing businesses across the South West.

Details on open funding opportunities from the UK Space Agency, the space sector, academic, education and community partners.

Exploration Science working group support. ARTES: Invitations To Tender (ESA Workplan Activities). Navigation Innovation Support Programme (NavISP). Student support: ESA microgravity programmes. Responsive Mode Call - Exploration Community Development. General Support Technology Programme (GSTP).

Opportunities for secondments at NCSC advisor roles for Radio Frequency security and Private Critical National Infrastructure secondments.

A three-year initiative to boost Future Economy-focused SMEs through aligning grant funding for R&D development with investment from partnerships with credible investor partners

ESA's ARTES Core Competitiveness programme helps European and Canadian industry to develop innovative satcom products, services, systems and partnerships.

The Defence and Security Accelerator find and fund exploitable innovation to support UK defence and security quickly and effectively. Check it out for open calls for funding. 

The UK Space Agency (UKSA) has launched the second round of its International Bilateral Fund (IBF), inviting proposals to strengthen the UK’s space partnerships worldwide. With a total investment pot of up to £5.5 million, this fund supports projects that build strategic international relationships, drive inward investment and exports, and develop priority UK space capabilities. 

The fund offers two project tracks: Track 1 supports early-stage international projects with grants from £50,000 to £150,000 (TRL 1-4). Track 2 funds more mature collaborations, awarding £150,000 to £500,000 per project (TRL 5-9). 

Projects should run for 7 months, starting by 1 September 2025 and ending 31 March 2026. Proposals must be submitted by 7 July 2025 (midnight BST). Please note, there is a limit of two applications per lead organisation due to high demand. 

The UK Space Agency is launching the second phase of its Unlocking Space for Business programme, aimed at accelerating the use of space-based solutions within the UK’s Financial Services and Transport & Logistics sectors. Building on a successful pilot, this next phase offers grant funding to help de-risk innovative pilot projects led by end-user businesses working with space suppliers and integrators. 

With up to £2 million available, grants per project typically range from £150,000 to £400,000. This is a prime opportunity for consortiums to commercialise cutting-edge space applications and boost investment in the UK space ecosystem. 

Deadline: 7 July 2025, 4pm BST (no extensions).

Innovate UK Business Connect is a valuable hub for UK businesses seeking funding, collaboration, and innovation opportunities, especially within the space sector. The platform regularly features a range of calls and projects supporting space technologies, applications, and sector growth. 

From early-stage innovation grants to large-scale collaborative projects, Innovate UK Business Connect offers something for startups, SMEs, and established organisations looking to advance their space capabilities or explore new markets. 

We encourage all UK space businesses and innovators to explore the latest opportunities and keep an eye on this dynamic platform for new funding rounds and partnership possibilities. 

There’s currently a wide range of funding calls and support programmes available across the UK’s thriving space sector — from research and innovation to education and community engagement. While we’ve highlighted several key opportunities in this newsletter, there are many more we simply don’t have space to feature. 

For a full overview of open funding opportunities and support for space-related R&D, innovation, academic and educational initiatives, visit the UK Space Agency’s dedicated portal. 

Following on from the UK Space Agency’s open calls, if you’re still on the hunt for support or inspiration, the latest Funding Flash from Space South Central offers a handy round-up of current funding opportunities across the UK space ecosystem. 

Whether you're a startup, established business, academic institution or consortium, there’s something here to help you take your next step — from innovation funding to collaboration programmes. Check out the May 2025 edition of the Funding Flash here. 

The NCC’s Space team are positioned at the forefront of both private and grant funded space development programs, across varied disciplines. These initiatives aim to revolutionise bolster and accelerate the UK space industry partners while supporting ambitious government efforts to position the UK as leaders in the space engineering sector.

To support this, the NCC’s Space team is seeking an inspiring and experienced Space Systems Engineer to provide technical leadership and governance, establish industrial technology partnerships, and help drive strategic sector ambitions on a 12-month fixed term basis, full-time or part-time.

ICOMAT is an ambitious advanced manufacturing company with game changing technology and critically people with the imagination and drive to grow a business that will enable leading OEMs in the Aeronautics, Automotive Space and Defence sectors to significantly reduce the weight and improve the performance and efficiency of their vehicles & products. 

Starion UK, now headquartered in Bath, is keen to recruit the best expertise to deliver space segment and ground segment systems and studies. Whilst there is not currently a recruitment campaign underway, we welcome CV’s from those seeking roles in these areas. 

Space Forge is extraordinarily diverse team of incredibly talented people dedicated to making returnable, reusable orbital factories a reality. From our team lunches to our team ownership, Space Forge is building the company others aspire theirs to be. So if you’ve got the right stuff (and really know your stuff), then why wait?

Looking for a new opportunity and would like to join one of the UK’s most exciting space startups?
Linked are current vacancies with Magdrive. If there isn’t anything that is a perfect fit for you and you would like to make a speculative enquiry, then please send your CV to [email protected]

Babcock provides critical complex engineering services which save lives, support national defence and protect communities. Focussing on three highly regulated markets: defence, emergency services and civil nuclear - Delivering vital services and managing complex assets in the UK and internationally.