French aerospace delegation visits Space Park Leicester to explore UK–French space collaboration
A delegation of French aerospace and space organisations has visited Space Park Leicester to explore opportunities for collaboration with UK businesses, researchers and technology specialists.
Organised through GIFAS, the French Aerospace Industries Association, the visit brought together 15 delegates representing 12 organisations spanning aerospace engineering, advanced manufacturing, robotics, digital technologies, logistics, testing and specialist space systems.
The programme showcased the research, innovation and commercial capabilities of Space Park Leicester and the wider UK space ecosystem, while creating opportunities for international partnerships and new business relationships.
The day also saw the launch of Space Park Leicester’s 2026 annual review, which highlights the campus’s growing economic contribution and its role in supporting businesses, research and innovation.
The review reveals that Space Park Leicester generates £73 million in economic value annually, underlining the impact of the University of Leicester’s £100 million space research, innovation and teaching hub.
Showcasing Leicester’s space capabilities
The programme began with an introduction to Space Park Leicester and its role in connecting industry, academia and the wider space sector.
Will Wells, Chief Executive of Space Park Leicester, introduced the annual review, highlighting the campus’s contribution to the economy, research and innovation. Vinay Patel, Head of Commercial and Innovation, then presented an overview of Space Park Leicester and its role in supporting the development of the space sector.
Nicola Deards provided an overview of the UK and Midlands space ecosystem, followed by Joshua van der Hey, who presented the work of the National Centre for Earth Observation and its Earth observation capabilities.
The programme also featured a presentation from Perpetual Atomics, showcasing the work of the Leicester-based space nuclear power company.
Delegates subsequently toured Space Park Leicester’s facilities, gaining insight into the infrastructure, expertise and technical capabilities supporting space research, engineering and commercial innovation.
Andy Cheney presented Space Park Leicester’s technical services, while Claire Edwards highlighted funding opportunities available to support innovation and collaboration.
Space Park Leicester Head of Commercial and Innovation, Vinay Patel, said:
“Space is an international endeavour, and progress depends on bringing together businesses, researchers and innovators with complementary expertise. Welcoming this French delegation is an opportunity to strengthen those connections, showcase the capabilities we have here in Leicester and explore where working together can take us next.
“Our annual review also highlights the growing economic contribution of Space Park Leicester and the value of connecting research, innovation and industry. By creating the right environment for collaboration, we can help turn shared ambitions into new opportunities for the space sector and the wider economy.”
Connecting industry through curated conversations
A key feature of the visit was Cosmic Coffee: Curated Conversations, a special edition of Space Park Leicester’s networking programme designed to turn introductions into meaningful opportunities.
Bringing together 48 participants from around 40 companies, the session introduced a more structured approach to business-to-business networking.
Rather than relying on informal introductions, participants took part in scheduled, one-to-one conversations designed around their interests, capabilities and potential areas for collaboration.
Three ten-minute rounds provided focused opportunities to explore shared challenges, identify complementary technologies and discuss potential partnerships. Further networking allowed conversations to continue beyond the structured sessions.
The format was designed to help participants identify relevant contacts across the French delegation and Space Park Leicester community, creating a starting point for future discussions around research, supply chains, technology development and commercial opportunities.
By encouraging purposeful introductions between organisations with complementary expertise, Cosmic Coffee demonstrated how a more targeted approach to networking can help businesses make valuable connections and explore opportunities beyond their immediate networks.
Strengthening international partnerships
The French delegation comprised representatives from 12 organisations, including Absolut System, Air Liquide, Apave, CEVA Logistics, CT Engineering, Exail, Fives AddUp, Hapster, SEREME, Sopra Steria and VOLUM-e, alongside GIFAS.
Together, these organisations represent a broad range of capabilities relevant to the aerospace and space supply chain.
From cryogenic equipment and precision engineering to metal additive manufacturing, robotics, digital transformation, testing and logistics, the visiting organisations brought complementary expertise relevant to the development of future space technologies.
By bringing these organisations together with Space Park Leicester’s industry partners and research community, the visit demonstrated the value of creating connections between international businesses, academic expertise and specialist technical capabilities.
Through its focus on discovery, collaboration and commercial engagement, the visit provided a platform for exploring how UK and French organisations can work together to address shared challenges and develop new opportunities across the space sector.
To explore Space Park Leicester partnerships, missions, residents, facilities, training programmes and innovation products, visit space-park.co.uk or to learn more about the University of Leicester visit le.ac.uk/.
Main image: French aerospace and space organisations visiting Space Park Leicester
Explore More Stories
- French aerospace delegation visits Space Park Leicester to explore UK–French space collaboration
- Space Park Leicester generates over £70m in economic value annually
- Moon rock helps attract IDE Systems to Space Park Leicester
- International project using tech to support rural communities uses Leicester digital twin expertise
- Discover how to access free satellite imagery and Earth Observation data at Space Park Leicester Planet Day