TWI is managing the ESA technology brokerage on behalf of the European Space Agency and the UK Space Agency.
The role of the ESA Technology Broker is to identify and transfer cutting edge technologies from diverse sectors to the space industry, while also taking technologies from the space sector and transferring them to terrestrial use.
UK Space Sector
The space industry is one of the fastest-growing sectors of the UK economy, creating opportunities for those within and outside of the industry.
Technology transfer with other sectors with similar characteristics allows for ‘spin-out’ – where space technologies transfer to Earth-based applications – and ‘spin-in’ – where technologies go from Earth-based applications to be used in space.
There are around 52,000 people already directly employed in the UK space sector, with another 128,000 jobs at least partially supported through supply chains, and there is room for others to tap into the strength of the UK space sector.
Reported growth in the industry saw an income of £18.9 billion in 2021/22 as the UK space sector outstripped both the global space sector and wider UK industry.
This continued growth is opening up opportunities for organisations to align with the space sector through innovation, partnership and technology transfer.
Bridging the Gap
As ESA Technology Broker, our mission is to bridge the gap between those outside the space sector and the space industry.
Support initiatives, such as ‘Prepare for Space’ are designed to offer support to help unlock opportunities for businesses to adapt and transfer their cutting-edge technologies to space applications, fostering innovation across various industries to enhance space capabilities.
By highlighting and supporting UK technologies with potential for spin-in to the space sector and spin-out to other industries, we are driving mutual growth and innovation.
‘Prepare for Space’
The Prepare for Space programme supports UK companies by providing essential guidance and resources to adapt products, services and technologies for space applications, while also enhancing their market readiness and competitiveness.
Find out more about the ESA Technology Broker and see how you could benefit from the opportunities available in the space sector by visiting the dedicated ESA Technology Broker website.