Space South Central at Space-Comm Europe Expo 2026
Held annually at Excel London, Space-Comm Europe Expo is the UK’s largest space industry event, this year attracting 5,400 delegates, 200 speakers and 250 exhibitors – including Space South Central! Here are some of our highlights from the two-day event.
Unlocking big event benefits for SMEs
For the first time, we offered cluster SMEs the opportunity to exhibit with us at Space-Comm, following a successful pilot at last year’s Space Tech Expo in Bremen, Germany.
Exhibiting at national and international space industry events is invaluable for any company wanting to maximise networking opportunities for sales, collaborations or investment. For SMEs, however, time, budget and staffing constraints can make exhibiting at big events a challenge, if not impossible.
To make exhibiting more accessible for smaller businesses, in 2025, we offered space for five cluster SMEs to join us on Space South Central’s Space Tech Expo stand, co-branded with the companies’ information, giving each business all the benefits of exhibiting – at a fraction of the cost.
With positive feedback from the five companies that joined us in Bremen, we decided to do it all again at Space-Comm – but this time with 10 SMEs!
As with Bremen, the Space South Central team handled the stand design and administration for Space-Comm, leaving our 10 companies – CCww (Communication Consultants World Wide), Circuits Integrated Hellas, EECL (European Engineering & Consultancy Ltd), Hnosi Space Solutions, Jaltek, MDA Space, R E Thompson & Co, Satraka, Surrey NanoSystems and Stars Edge – free to focus on getting the most out of the show.
The cluster’s full team was on hand throughout the event to support each business with introductions and meeting opportunities.
“Exhibiting with Space South Central for Hnosi Space Solutions was incredible, were a small business and to have our brand showcased and promoted was huge for us. Space South Central went above and beyond to make the experience seamless, kept me up to date from the very start. Great catch up calls and were on hand for any questions or concerns. I cant recommend Space South Central enough the whole team are amazing.”
If your SME is interested in exhibiting with us at a future space industry event, contact our Business Development Officer, Victoria May-Chamberlain, to explore the options available: victoria.may-chamberlain@port.ac.uk
Forging global partnerships
Space-Comm 2026 attracted attendees and exhibitors from 50 countries – so it’s no surprise that it’s the perfect place to nurture new and existing international relationships.
We welcomed delegations from Taiwan, Canada and Denmark to our stand and two international Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) were signed during the event.
On Wednesday evening, we held a reception to mark the signing of an MoU between Space South Central and Taiwan’s Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) to boost bilateral trade, startup acceleration and technological exchange.
From left: Will Lovegrove, Chair of Space South Central (UCL); Professor Nigel Williams, University of Portsmouth; Ambassador Vincent Chin‑Hsiang Yao, Taiwan’s Representative to the United Kingdom; Lewis Chen, Director General of ITRI’s Commercialisation and Industry Service Center; and Professor Adam Amara, Chief Scientist at the UK Space Agency, following the signing of the MOU in London on Wednesday. © Chen Yun‑yu, Central News Agency, London.
Kindly hosted by our academic partners, UCL, at their multi-award-winning UCL East campus, esteemed guests included Taiwan’s Ambassador to the UK, Vincent Chin‑Hsiang Yao.
Thursday saw Southampton-based propulsion specialist, OhmSpace, sign an MoU with global satellite company, HEX20, focusing on satellite propulsion technologies and mission integration support for upcoming small satellite missions.
Southampton Space Institute launches
Our academic partner, the University of Southampton, chose Space-Comm for the launch Southampton Space Institute, which brings together space-related expertise and facilities across multiple faculties to drive the development of new space technology, policy and space sustainability.
Prof Matt Middleton presenting at the launch of Southampton Space Institute at Space Comm Expo Europe in London
At the invitation-only launch event on the first day of Space-Comm, guests were given a fascinating insight into the university’s long space heritage and how Southampton Space Institute will continue that legacy by shaping future innovation and policy for space.
Speakers included Southampton Space Institute’s Director, Professor Matt Middleton, followed by speakers including, Chair of the UK Space Agency, Lord Willetts, and MP for Southampton Itchen, Darren Paffey.
UK’s first apprenticeship matching scheme unveiled
Airbus Defence & Space Portsmouth and the Solent Growth Partnership launched a new approach to space skills development and recruitment: the UK’s first apprenticeship matching programme.
Benefiting both budding apprentices and SMES in the region, the new pilot scheme aims to match talented applicants who’ve narrowly missed selection for Airbus’ highly-competitive apprenticeship programmes, with apprentice roles in local businesses.
Portsmouth North MP,Amanda Martin, attended the Space-Comm launch, followed by a visit to our stand where she met the Space South Central team and our co-exhibiting SMEs.
Left to right Dr Louise Butt (Space South Central) and Amanda Martin MP for Portsmouth North
ESA 101 with our Ecosystem Champions
Space-Comm attendees interested in finding out more about procurement and funding opportunities with ESA had all their questions answered at an ESA 101 session.
The first of a series of ESA 101 events being held across England during March, delegates got to hear from businesses that have successfully collaborated with ESA, and speak to UK Space Agency, ESA, space clusters and Ecosystem Champions, including Dan Smith, who is hosted by Space South Central.
If you missed out at Space-Comm, there’s still time to book your place at upcoming ESA 101 events in Milton Keynes, Manchester and York.
