UK Space Conference 2023

A stand at a conference, with people stood around chatting.

Image Credit: Northern Ireland Space Office

Industry impact

Belfast hosted the prestigious UK Space Conference at ICC Belfast in November 2023 bringing over 1700 international and national industry, government and academic leaders to Northern Ireland for three days and generating a direct economic impact of £1.7 million through visitor spend alone.

Bringing the conference to Northern Ireland was a game-changing opportunity for the Aerospace, Defence, Security and Space industry. The event provided Northern Ireland a unique opportunity to promote its capabilities to an influential global space audience as well as exchange ideas, plans and encourage development and success in the emerging space age.

Northern Ireland highlights from the conference included:

  • Launch of the Northern Ireland’s new Space Cluster, NI SPACE, to support development and identify opportunities for collaboration and commercial growth
  • Development of international trade opportunities through a Northern Ireland space networking event which provided a unique opportunity for local companies to meet with the UK Space Trade Advisory Committee
  • An investment reception and Northern Ireland space pavilion organised by Invest NI to promote the region’s world-leading sector capabilities in space. Organisations included KX, Skytek, Queen’s University Belfast CSIT, Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Centre (AMIC), IceMOS Technology Corporation, CCP Gransden, ANGOKA, Denroy and Springco (NI) Ltd 
  • A joint event with NI SPACE and Resonate Testing to explore trade and innovation partnership opportunities with keynote speakers from BAE Systems and Thales Alenia Space
  • Local PhD students and academics operating in the sector were provided with a spotlight platform to showcase research and industry impact and discounted passes to attend the event
  • Over 650 Northern Ireland school pupils were invited to participated over three days to showcase the exciting and varied career opportunities in space and encourage greater interest in STEM subjects for further and higher education
  • Funding was provided to cover teacher provision and participation at workshops as part of the Teach Training programme.
  • A space launch deal between Spirit AeroSystems and Skyrora focussed on orbital launch capability was also announced at the conference.

The event was secured for Northern Ireland by Visit Belfast, ICC Belfast, Robert Hill (Director of the NI Space Office) Invest NI and ADS.

 

1,700

Delegates

 

£1.7 million

economic impact

 

650

Northern Ireland students attending

 

4,446

bed nights

Provided in consultation and approval from the Northern Ireland Space Office.