The UK Space Agency has announced 23 new projects designed to strengthen global space collaboration, develop national expertise and drive economic growth.
The initiatives, supported through the International Bilateral Fund, represent a £6.5 million investment and will see UK companies and universities working with partners in countries including Australia, Canada, France, Germany, India, Japan, Lithuania and the United States.
Projects will focus on areas ranging from lunar agriculture and autonomous 3D printing to orbital threat detection, biotech manufacturing, medical research and advanced radar systems. They cover a wide spectrum of disciplines, including life sciences, communications, in-orbit servicing, Earth observation and advanced materials.
The UK space sector employs more than 55,000 people and generates £18.6 billion a year. The funding announcement, made during the International Astronautical Congress in Sydney, reflects the government’s strategy to expand international cooperation and ensure Britain remains competitive in the global market.
The programme follows recent joint work between the UK and NASA, including the development of artificial intelligence models to support future space exploration and British scientific contributions to NASA’s IMAP mission launched in September.
The announcement also comes as the UK Space Agency prepares to merge with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology in April 2026, a move intended to streamline policy and delivery while enhancing support for the space industry.
