Space for our Future

Belfast embraced the opportunity to showcase its burgeoning capabilities in the space sector and the city's vibrant atmosphere set the stage for a conference that would be out of this world. In the build up to this exciting event, the UK Space Agency landed a 72ft replica of the LauncherOne rocket in Belfast’s city centre to mark its ‘Space for Everyone’ tour. Visitors, including children, families, and teachers, had the opportunity to see the rocket model up close and learn about the important role of space in our everyday lives.

A stellar host

In a historic move, Northern Ireland hosted this conference for the first time, cementing the region’s expertise in the sector. This conference served as a platform to spotlight its exceptional capabilities across various industries supporting the space sector. From cutting-edge technology to sustainable practices, it demonstrates its readiness to contribute significantly to the evolving landscape of space exploration.

Director of Northern Ireland Space Office, Robert Hill said:

This is the first time ever that the UK Space Conference has come to Northern Ireland and thousands of delegates have come from all over the world to see our little part of space.

Business successes in the space sector in recent years include Newry firm, Resonate Testing, delivering the contract for shock testing two payload modules on the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Lunar Pathfinder spacecraft: modules that will provide the first ever Sat Nav position fix outside of earth’s orbit. Local company Skytek was also awarded a significant contract from the ESA to develop flight support software for the new Gateway space station, an essential element of their ambition to bring a European to the Moon by 2030. Gateway is an international initiative led by NASA and ESA. It is one of the pillars of NASA’s Artemis program, supporting a sustainable presence on the Moon and exploration beyond.

Space for our Future

The conference was aptly titled ‘Space For Our Future’ as the versatile spaces in ICC Belfast served as the canvas for discussions that shaped the destiny of space exploration. During the event, delegates navigated across the venue as event organisers maximised the opportunity to use all key spaces including a full takeover of Level 1 for exhibition which spans over 3500m2 encompassing Hall 1, Hall 2, Bar 1 and Gallery 1.

ICC Belfast Acting Chief Executive, Iain Bell said:

The theme for the 2023 conference was ‘Space for our Future’ and we believe we have provided delegates with the space and event that they will talk about long into the future.

UK Space Conference encouraged delegates to think forward and keynote sessions focused on content around discovering the potential of space, growing space ecosystems and skills capability and security in the sector. Collaborating closely with the conference organiser and adopting the client’s KPIs as our own, the overall objective was to execute the most significant and impressive UK Space Conference ever.

Explore each zone

To ensure broad discussion around the latest innovations, inspiring stories, and important advancements, the event delivery team decided to split the conference centre into different feature areas. Hall 2 focused on Northern Ireland organisations and included a large Invest Northern Ireland stand which showcased the capabilities of aerospace companies presented by local rising leaders in the space industry.

Sponsored by Rolls Royce, the ‘Spotlight Stage’ in Hall 1 was a unique zone that featured engaging presentations and short, keynote speeches for smaller, more intimate groups. It also served as a platform for live streaming of the plenary sessions from the Main Auditorium which was supported by ICC Belfast’s award-winning production team.

A ‘Meeting Hub’ was set up in Arc Bar which allowed space for small meetings and in Cityside Concourse an ‘Innovation Zone’ provided a central hub for highlighting cutting-edge research, technology, innovation, and skills. Innovative technologies were on display including the Airbus ExoMars Rover, GMV Moon Rover and Rolls Royce Space Space Micro-Reactor.

The Level 1 Foyer area housed a ‘Small Business Zone’, creating the perfect space to connect and engage with leading small businesses, micro-SMEs, and start-ups. This area became the backdrop for creating online content including interviews with ESA Astronaut, Major Tim Peake and ESA astronaut reserve, John McFall.

Reaching for the stars

The successful hosting of the UK Space Conference in Belfast sets the stage for an exciting future. The city is now positioned as a key player in shaping the trajectory of space exploration. As advancements in technology, sustainability, and international cooperation continue to unfold, Belfast stands ready to contribute and lead in these transformative innovations.

Director of Northern Ireland Space Office, Robert Hill said:

“The feedback from delegates has been fantastic. Everyone has said how friendly everybody is and this has been our opportunity to bring everyone to Northern Ireland."

When you are located in a city like Belfast that is so vibrant, that has the research background of Queen’s University and Ulster University, it really does put a spotlight on the region and make people realise we are a very unique place to do space.

Beyond its contributions to the space sector, hosting the UK Space Conference had a substantial impact on the local economy with early estimates indicating the conference injected £2 million into the region. The influx of international attendees, delegates, and speakers brought economic benefits to Belfast, showcasing the city as a destination capable of hosting major global events."

Following the success of this event, Northern Ireland stands poised to reach new heights in the business events sphere. Bringing together a mix of delegates from across the world including astronauts, global space agencies, and industry leaders not only elevates the city's profile but also establishes it as a hub for innovation and collaboration in the space sector. The legacy of hosting this conference will undoubtedly reverberate and shape the city's trajectory in the years to come.