Running from Wednesday 16 to Thursday 17 July, the event is aimed at government bodies, industry, and academia.

With the theme of Space for Growth, the conference will cover questions such as how space can drive long-term economic growth for the UK. And what will it take to build a UK workforce needed for such a future?

Also, the context for the conference will be the government’s Industrial Strategy. This is due to be appearing in the weeks prior.

Professor Anu Ojha, Director of Championing Space at the UK Space Agency, highlights that “We are already living in a space age”. He cites that £350 billion of annual UK economic activity depends on services from space. This amounts to 16% of our GDP. For example, the position, navigation, timing and communications capabilities supporting the 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,” he says.

“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.”