Manchester to host UK Space Conference 2025

04 Oct 2024, 08:59 by Alun Williams · Electronics Weekly.com

Manchester will be hosting the UK Space Conference 2025 – involving governments, industry, and academia – the UK Space Agency has announced.

The biennial space industry event will be running 16 – 17 July 2025 – but the exact central Manchester venue has yet to be confirmed. Note, Early Bird tickets, and speaker announcements, will be “coming soon” the organisers promise.

UK Space Conference 2025

“Following successful conferences in Newport and Belfast, and after opening new satellite offices across the UK this year, we are excited to host the UK Space Conference in Manchester, the world’s first industrial city,” said Dr Paul Bate, Chief Executive of the UK Space Agency.

“We look forward to welcoming attendees from across the UK, forging new collaborations and championing the benefits of the space industry as a key provider of jobs, prosperity and innovation.”

The official trade association of the UK space industry, UKspace, welcomes the announcement:

“UKspace is delighted to be supporting the 2025 UK Space Conference,” said Colin Baldwin, its Executive Director. This biennial event, organised by and for the sector through our strong and connected ecosystem, brings us together to discuss key issues and opportunities including addressing skills challenges, supporting fit-for-purpose regulation, spreading sustainability standards and promoting private investment – all of which underpins the long-term health of the sector.

North West

The North West also has its own regional space cluster. Notably, there is also the largest scientific instrument in Human history: the Square Kilometre Array Observatory. Its HQ is in Cheshire alongside the University of Manchester’s famous Jodrell Bank Observatory.

“From Jodrell Bank’s early breakthroughs to launch vehicle testing at Spadeadam in Cumbria, the North West has a proud legacy of driving space exploration and innovation,” said Alan Cross, of the STFC (Science and Technology Facilities Council) and Development Manager of the North West Space Cluster. “Today, as the UK reaches for new frontiers, the North West’s space sector is thriving.”

“Manchester’s satellite manufacturing and the University of Liverpool’s missions to the International Space Station are just two standout examples of this, and the UK Space Conference 2025 in Manchester will showcase this vibrancy and progress.”

You can read more about the UK Space Conference 2025 on the dedicated UKspace conference website.

The UK space sector generates £18.9 billion and employs 52,000 people, highlights the UK Space Agency. Additionally, it also supports critical national Infrastructure, including energy grids and healthcare services.

The last UK Space Conference was held in Belfast in 2023.