Glasgow’s Stellar Line-up: A Year of Space Conferences
13 May 2025
When it comes to space, Glasgow isn’t just reaching for the stars—it’s setting the trajectory. A powerhouse in the UK’s space sector, the city is playing host to a remarkable series of space-related conferences in 2024 and 2025, reinforcing its status as a leader in innovation, research, and sustainability. From propulsion breakthroughs to gravitational waves and CubeSat technology, Glasgow is where the cosmos comes to talk shop.
“Glasgow Convention Bureau is delighted that the city is experiencing a growth in space technology and research conferences due to our thriving and rapidly growing space industry. The city and region are a key hub for space systems, manufacture, launch, and data analysis that drive a need for innovators to meet and collaborate here.” Aileen Crawford, Head of Glasgow Convention Bureau
A Cosmic Calendar
This spring, Glasgow welcomed the PocketQube Conference (25–27 March 2025), held at the Glasgow University Union. The event brought together leading engineers, academics, and businesses working in the field of ultra-small satellites. The conference highlighted Glasgow’s significant contributions to the evolution of the PocketQube platform — a technology with global reach and roots in the city’s vibrant space ecosystem.
“Glasgow was the perfect host for this year’s PocketQube Conference. The city is globally recognised for its leadership in small satellite innovation, and that’s reflected not just in its universities and businesses, but in the way it supports events like ours. Delegates commented on how welcoming and well-connected the city felt — it made for a truly inspiring few days.” Tom Walkinshaw, Founder/CEO at Alba Orbital & PocketQube Conference Organiser
Earlier in the calendar, the 3AF International Conference on Space Propulsion (20–23 May 2024) drew global experts to Glasgow to explore advances in rocket propulsion, while Space: Securing our Entrepreneurial Future (16–17 May 2024) at the University of Strathclyde focused on space industry growth and economic opportunity.
“Glasgow combines academic excellence with industry know-how, and that’s what makes it such a compelling destination for space conferences. The links to leading research centres and industry are right on your doorstep, which really adds value for delegates.” Professor Ik Siong Heng, School of Physics & Astronomy Professor, University of Glasgow.
Still to come, the 24th International Conference on General Relativity and Gravitation & 16th Edoardo Amaldi Conference on Gravitational Waves (14–18 July 2025) will take place at the Scottish Event Campus (SEC), reinforcing Glasgow’s role as a host city for high-profile, internationally significant events. Later in the year, the European CubeSat Symposium (8–12 December 2025) returns to the University of Glasgow, rounding out an impressive programme of events.
Glasgow: A Space Powerhouse
Scotland’s space sector is booming, and Glasgow is at its heart. The city produces more satellites than anywhere outside of the US and is a global hub for small satellite manufacturing and space data analysis. The University of Strathclyde’s Centre for Space Science and Applications is at the forefront of space-based quantum experiments and environmental monitoring, while the University of Glasgow’s Space Glasgow group is advancing research in planetary science, spaceflight, and gravitational wave detection.
Sustainability is also high on the agenda. Glasgow Caledonian University is leading efforts to measure and reduce the UK space industry’s carbon footprint, supporting the national goal of cutting sector emissions by 50% by 2030 and reaching net zero by 2045. This aligns with Scotland’s broader ambitions, including the development of the world’s first carbon-neutral spaceport in Sutherland.
Why Glasgow?
Glasgow’s role in the space industry isn’t just about academic research—it’s about real-world applications and commercial growth. The city’s thriving space ecosystem supports everything from satellite construction and launch vehicle manufacturing to Earth observation and deep space exploration. Investments in cutting-edge technology and data analysis continue to drive Glasgow’s status as a global space hub.
“The growth in the number of space-related conferences being held in Glasgow is testament to the network of innovation assets, including world-class universities, colleges, internationally acclaimed companies, and groundbreaking innovators who work closely together to make the region a leader in the global space market. At the Glasgow Science Centre, we champion the city’s scientific and engineering story to encourage our young people to become innovators of the future. We are delighted that Glasgow is leading the way as a hub for space and satellite technology.” Stephen Breslin, CEO, Glasgow Science Centre.
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