The UK Space Agency has announced a new round of 23 international projects designed to strengthen global space partnerships, develop national capabilities, and stimulate economic growth. Funded through the International Bilateral Fund (IBF) with a £6.5 million investment, these initiatives enable UK companies and universities to collaborate with partners in countries including Australia, Canada, France, Germany, India, Japan, Lithuania, and the USA. The projects cover a wide range of disciplines such as autonomous 3D printing, lunar agriculture, orbital threat detection, biotech manufacturing, medical research, deep space radar, Earth observation, communications, and advanced materials, highlighting the UK’s robust space sector, which employs over 55,000 people and generates £18.6 billion in annual revenue.
Space Minister Liz Lloyd emphasized that the funding will create jobs, strengthen international partnerships, and keep the UK at the forefront of space innovation. Announced at the International Astronautical Congress in Sydney, the investment demonstrates the UK’s commitment to bilateral research and development funding, supporting collaboration across the global space sector. The IBF helps UK-led projects build capabilities, expand research, and establish strategic international partnerships, following recent agreements such as the NASA-UK AI collaboration under the Transatlantic Tech Prosperity Deal and contributions to NASA’s IMAP mission.
The projects span a diverse range of space technologies. Some key initiatives include the development of an Americium Radioisotope Stirling Generator by the University of Leicester and NASA partners, advancing high-precision satellite navigation and rendezvous technologies through collaborations with Lunasa Ltd and Infinite Orbits, and improving space-based biotech manufacturing with Kayser Space Limited and King’s College London. Other projects focus on in-orbit 3D printing, Earth observation for environmental monitoring, autonomous satellite communications, and health technologies for astronauts. Many projects involve collaborations with countries such as Australia, Canada, Germany, France, Lithuania, Italy, Japan, and the USA, integrating UK expertise with international research and industrial partners.
The funding also supports initiatives that combine microgravity research, biotech, and medical innovation, such as the development of personalized tourniquet systems for astronaut health, space-based tissue engineering platforms, and pharmaceuticals designed to halt cellular degeneration in space. Several UK-Canada projects aim to explore space-based agriculture and climate-resilient food systems, demonstrating how space innovation can provide solutions for challenges on Earth. Collectively, these projects highlight the UK’s commitment to maintaining a leadership position in global space technology, advancing scientific knowledge, and expanding opportunities for commercial and academic collaboration.
This announcement comes ahead of the UK Space Agency’s integration into the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology in April 2026, which will streamline strategy, policy, and delivery, enhancing support for the UK space sector. Stakeholders from UKspace and the aerospace, defence, security, and space sectors have welcomed the projects, noting that international collaborations like these stimulate innovation, strengthen trade links, and help ensure the UK remains a competitive leader in space technology worldwide.
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