The UK has a deep space heritage in academia and industry – and there is recognition throughout recent government strategies of the importance of the UK’s university base in underpinning our space sector, and the requirement to foster deeper relationships between industry and academia.
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Whitepaper on UK Space Policy and funding from an academic point of view - on funding gap implications, membership of ESA, need for a strong national and bilateral programmes along with comments on links to industry and some general points
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A summary of key points raised on behalf of academia. These points were also shared with Civil Servants attending and working on Space policy after the meeting.
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The Space Academic Network (SPAN) (206 members from 57 universities representing an academic view on space policy and funding) welcomes the Government plans for an Industrial Strategy (IS).
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This document expands the original concept of science targeted missions to all uses in Space. This document is a development of a SPAN White Paper put together in 2019 on so-called Sci-Sats.
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This paper outlines areas for further funding in academic institutions in the areas of Space Technology and Training under the auspices of the National Space Programme.
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This paper outlines a proposed strategy to address a critical lack of funding for UK university research in space science, engineering and technology.
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This paper describes the case for a Nano-Launcher programme of research and development and the case for student competitions in this area.
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To establish a National programme for the development of new World-leading science using small satellite technology and missions to accelerate and demonstrate UK leadership.
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A study into the nature and benefits of the UK's space science activity.
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SPAN hosted a workshop on potential dual use on December 5, 2022, at Leeds University. The workshop report is only available by sending a request to SPAN, specifying why you would like to view it.
Request Publication28 October 2025
We’re pleased to announce that our SPAN White Paper, Bridging the Gap Between Industry and Academia – led by Anushka Sharma and Professor Mark Sims (University of Leicester / SPAN), is now available to read.
01 August 2025
🚀 That’s a wrap on the UK Space Conference 2025 — what a jam-packed week it has been for the SPAN Project Office as we've been working out of Manchester this whole week!
31 July 2025
Key updates from the UK Space Agency’s ESA Policy & Operations (EOP) Team, along with a personal message to the community from Professor Carole Mundell, ESA’s Director of Science.
