Space Wales Newsletter - Reflections on Spring 2026

As the Space economy accelerates across launch, satellite applications, sustainability and advanced manufacturing, Welsh organisations are firmly onboard and helping shape the trajectory ahead.
From Earth observation to Earth transformation, our community is turning space-enabled innovation into practical solutions for industry, resilience and a more connected future.

Latest News / Y Newyddion Diweddaraf

     Swansea University / Prifysgol Abertawe‘s CISM, the Centre for Integrative Semiconductor Materials, played host to a series of workshops arranged by Space Wales and its partners, Satellite Applications Catapult and Entangled Space

Two highly successful days at Space-Comm Expo Europe for #TeamWales at Excel London with many leads to follow up after the show

A huge thank you to everyone who joined us at KPMG Cardiff for our latest workshop, Scaling Up in the Space Sector

The Size & Health of the UK Space Industry 2025 Survey is now open

Your input is really valuable and helps inform sector insights and future strategy!

Whether you build and launch satellites, conduct research, or integrate satellite capabilities into commercial solutions - your contribution puts Wales on the map.

**The survey closes on 26th June**

A reflection by John Whalley FRAeS on the long journey by Aerospace Wales Forum Ltd to engage with and support the growth of the space sector in Wales, culminating in the establishment of Space Wales and the #SpaceWalesLeadershipCouncil at the end of 2020

We are delighted to welcome Glassbond (NW) Ltd. (inc subsidiary Moulding Compounds Limited) as a new member of Aerospace Wales Forum Ltd and Space Wales

Rebecca Evernden appointed as director of the new UK Space Agency

Space East has published its first major capability report, 'Connected Space Economy: Space East Capabilities

Opportunities / Cyfleoedd

UK Space Agency (UKSA)

A bolder approach to space strategy will see £500 million allocated to national programmes to back high-growth technologies and help British companies scale and compete on the international stage - More info

European Space Agency (ESA)

Calls for proposals (non-competitive):  Digitalisation of the Water Sector.

 ESA is  supporting projects using space-enabled  technologies to improve water resilience and sustainability -  More info

The ESA Business Applications and Space Solutions (BASS) 'Open Call for Proposals for Kick-starts' is offered under the European Space Agency - ESA's ACCESS programme.
Kick-starts are a type of Feasibility Study and last six months. Businesses from any sector can apply at any time throughout the year. Submitted proposals will be evaluated in batches - More info

The ESA Phi-Lab UK provides the funding and support to enable the commercialisation of innovative technologies that promote environmental sustainability, space sustainability and space resilience.

Access support from world-leading technical and scientific expertise to business coaching and commercialisation.  

Register for updates including future calls - More info

Upcoming Events / Digwyddiadau i Ddod

The 1st Synergies in Next Generation Cyber-Physical Systems Conference (SNGC 2026) will take place on September 16-18th hosted by Cardiff Metropolitan University, and will include the Track CPS for Space Applications: Communications, Infrastructure and Resilience.

 The track covers areas such as space communications, resilient infrastructure, satellite-enabled systems and integration of space and terrestrial networks, with contributions from both academia and industry. - Register

Organised by Satellite Evolution Group and Talk Satellite, Strategies in Satellite Ground Segment (SSGS) is the only conference and exhibition dedicated to ground segment – often the “overlooked” but critical part of the eco-system.

Now in its third year, SSGS is being staged at the Park Plaza Hotel in London on September 30 and October 1. Among the focus areas this year will be data centres, cloud and edge computing, as well as the provocative question – “Is the future Optical?” -  Register

If you're interested in supplying into the Space sector, please register for the European Space Agency - ESA Industry Space Days, to be held on 16th and 17th September at their ESTEC site in the Netherlands. - Register

Space Tech Expo Europe 2026.  Bremen, 17th - 19th November

From launch services, satellite operations, communications and ground systems, to materials suppliers, subsystems, engineering services, components, software suppliers and more, this is where the European space community converges to source solutions, build partnerships, and drive progress - Register

Spotlight / Sylw

Friction Technology Ltd (FTL) is increasingly supporting advanced aerospace and space-sector applications, including components used within precision electromechanical & motion control systems for low earth orbit (LEO) satellite programmes being developed by leading European aerospace organisations.

Working closely with engineering and R&D teams, FTL has supported the development and testing of specialist friction materials designed to perform reliably within demanding environments. Following successful live trials and performance reporting, the company is excited by the opportunities emerging within the growing space sector.

Operating from North Wales, FTL manufactures specialist friction materials and motion control components for aerospace, defence and industrial applications. With in-house material development, precision CNC machining and bonding capabilities, the company supports both legacy and next-generation programmes under EN9100 quality standards.

Over the past 24 months,  FTL has worked closely with a number of Tier 1 aerospace manufacturers across  specialist applications. More recently, this progress resulted in FTL being  selected to participate in the Boeing and Boeing Defence UK Cohort 3 Cluster  Programme, recognising the company’s growing role within the future aerospace supply chain. FTL is incredibly excited for the future.

For all enquiries: [email protected] / [email protected]

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