Space Organisations

Satellite Finance Network

UKspace works collaboratively with the Satellite Finance Network (SFN) to provide its members with advice and support on regulatory issues, exporting and mechanisms to finance growth and further investment within the satellite and space industry.

As well as working with UKspace, the SFN is also actively engaged with the Satellite Applications Catapult to actively support entrepreneurs, start-ups and growing companies from their initial ideas through to stock market listings. The SFN will help members to make introductions to business angels, venture capital, private equity, banks, industry, academia, Government and professional services, including insurance, legal, technical and regulatory assistance.

The SFN was launched on 16 July 2013 at the UK Space conference in Glasgow. It is a network of individuals and organisations from the finance, legal, insurance, Government (including OFCOM, the UK Space Agency and UK Export Finance) and space communities. It includes a range of participants, from start-ups and small companies to industry leaders bound with a common interest in delivering satellite and satellite-enabled projects in the UK and beyond.

The SFN emerged from the highly successful Space Innovation & Growth Strategy (IGS), which was published in 2010, and which has influenced and informed Government policy towards the space sector ever since.

Since the publication of the IGS, the SFN has grown rapidly and worked to maintain the momentum to deliver on the key issue of IGS recommendations. The IGS is now undergoing a refresh (IGS2) to ensure the growth of the UK space industry is maintained over the next 5-10 years, with the SFN supporting this activity.

Visit the SFN website

Knowledge Transfer Network (KTN)

The Knowledge Transfer Network’s Space team can help you or your business with funding, expertise and connecting with innovators from other sectors.

For any enquiries, please contact Andy Bennett – KTM Space.

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You may find our Space and Satellite Applications Landscape Map helpful – it is an overview of the UK’s space and satellite companies, funding sources, support networks and more.

You can also keep up to date with news, funding and events across the space and satellite sector by connecting with the KTN Space group on LinkedIn or following KTN Space on Twitter.

Visit the KTN website

UK Space Agency

The UK Space Agency is at the heart of UK efforts to explore and benefit from space, with responsibility for all strategic decisions on the UK civil space programme and for providing a clear, single voice for UK space ambitions.  It also provides funding for a range of programmes such as the National Space Technology Programme, and works closely with national and international academic, education and community partners.

The Agency aims to capture 10% of the global market for space by 2030, as set out in the Space Innovation and Growth Strategy.

Figures released for 2014-15 confirmed that the UK’s thriving space sector contributed £13.7bn billion to the UK economy that year and directly employed 38,522 people, growing at average growth rate of 6.5% per annum.

For more information, please visit the UK Space Agency website.

Download the UK Space Agency Organisation Chart

Innovate UK

Innovate UK (formerly called Technology Strategy Board) is the UK’s innovation agency. It offers support and funding to help business develop new products and services, and brings them closer to market.

It works with business, research and policy-makers to bring people together to share ideas, tackle challenges and make new technological advances, and can invest in commercialising new ideas with business to improve business, the economy and society.

For more information, please visit the Innovate UK website

Satellite Applications Catapult

The Satellite Applications Catapult has been established as a new type of independent innovation and technology company, created to foster growth across the economy through the exploration of space.

The Catapult helps organisations make use of and benefit from satellite technologies, and brings together multi-disciplinary teams to generate ideas and solutions in an open innovation environment.

For more information, please visit the Satellite Applications Catapult website

Space Unit at Policy Exchange

Launched on 23 April 2019 by the US Secretary of the Air Force, Hon Heather Wilson, and UK Science Minister Chris Skidmore, Policy Exchange’s new Space Policy Unit is the first of its kind at any UK think tank. Its mission is to champion a comprehensive development of UK “space power” as a critical component of the UK national interest in the 21st century. Our goal is to help lift Britain’s space ambitions to the next level, and help build a strong, exciting vision for UK in space that can be taken up by Government and Parliament in the years ahead.

There is a significant disconnect between Britain’s current global standing as a P5 and G7 military (including cyber) and economic power and its comparatively limited sovereign capabilities (and public investment) in space.  Our Space Policy Unit will take a 360-degree approach to this challenge. Apart from the cornerstone aspects of space defence and security, our work programme will also consider the economic/industrial policy requirements for building a strong national space programme, exploring the way Britain can best contribute to the shaping of international norms in space and use its evolving space power in support of its global interests and those of its allies.

The new Unit is led by Gabriel Elefteriu, Policy Exchange’s Head of Space Policy, and looks to engage with partners from across industry, government, academia and the not-for-profit sector.​

Download ‘What do we want from the next Prime Minister? – Policy ideas for new leadership: Space’ published by Policy Exchange in July 2019.

Visit the Policy Exchange website