The Catapult Space Capabilities Catalog is a resource developed by the Satellite Applications Catapult to help connect businesses, researchers, and government stakeholders across the UK space ecosystem. It provides a structured view of organizations and their technological capabilities, enabling collaboration and innovation in space-related activities. The catalog acts as a national directory, bringing visibility to capabilities that span upstream, midstream, and downstream space domains.
Purpose of the Capabilities Catalog
The primary function of the catalog is to make it easier for space companies, suppliers, and potential customers to find and connect with one another. By mapping out the technology competencies and service offerings of UK-based entities, the catalog helps reduce duplication of effort and strengthens supply chains. It is especially useful for organizations looking to identify partners for research, development, manufacturing, testing, and commercial deployment of space technologies.
The catalog also serves as a planning and strategy tool for government agencies and regional authorities. It gives a snapshot of the country’s space capabilities and can be used to support investment decisions, policy development, and future growth initiatives.
Catalog Structure and Content
The Capabilities Catalog is organized around functional and technical categories that represent different stages of the space value chain. This includes spacecraft design, launch services, in-orbit operations, data processing, and application delivery. Each entry in the catalog includes basic organizational details such as location, contact information, and website. More importantly, it highlights the specific capabilities, facilities, and areas of specialization associated with the organization.
Entries are categorized by:
- Technology areas – including satellite manufacturing, propulsion, communications, Earth observation, and navigation systems.
- Service types – such as data analytics, systems integration, software development, and testing services.
- Market segments – including defense and security, climate monitoring, agriculture, transport, and urban planning.
Organizations can self-register and update their information, ensuring the catalog stays current and representative of active players in the sector.
Geographic Distribution and Regional Strengths
The catalog illustrates the geographic spread of capabilities across the UK, reflecting how different regions have developed strengths in particular areas. For example, regions like Harwell in Oxfordshire are known for their concentration of upstream space manufacturing and research facilities. Meanwhile, cities such as Glasgow and Edinburgh have become recognized hubs for small satellite production and data-driven downstream applications.
By highlighting regional competencies, the catalog supports place-based economic development. Local councils, combined authorities, and regional clusters can use the data to attract investment, develop skills programs, and promote their space sector globally.
Benefits to Industry Stakeholders
For small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), the Capabilities Catalog levels the playing field by increasing visibility and helping them compete for contracts and partnerships. Larger organizations benefit by gaining a more complete view of the UK supply chain, identifying new vendors, or collaborating with academic institutions.
Investors and funding bodies can use the catalog to discover innovative companies working in specific technical domains. Academic institutions can find industrial partners for grant applications and collaborative projects. New market entrants can quickly understand the landscape, identify gaps, and find relevant support networks.
Support for Innovation and Commercialization
The catalog plays a role in encouraging innovation by connecting research outputs with commercial opportunities. For example, an organization developing advanced materials for use in space structures can use the catalog to find potential integration partners or test facilities. Conversely, businesses looking to develop new products can identify universities or laboratories conducting relevant research.
Innovation often requires cross-sector collaboration. The Capabilities Catalog enables links between space and non-space sectors, such as energy, automotive, and health. These intersections are particularly valuable in areas like satellite-enabled mobility, space-based environmental monitoring, and space-derived data for infrastructure management.
Integration with Broader Catapult Activities
The Capabilities Catalog complements the wider services offered by the Satellite Applications Catapult, including business incubation, market intelligence, technical support, and access to test facilities. It is often used alongside other Catapult tools, such as the Space Enterprise Community platform and regional Space Enterprise Labs.
Together, these initiatives help support the development of high-value, high-growth opportunities in the UK space sector. They also enable better alignment between public and private investments, national priorities, and international collaboration efforts.
Accessibility and Use
The catalog is freely accessible online and is designed to be user-friendly. Users can search by keyword, technology domain, market sector, or geographic location. Filters allow refined results, and each listing includes direct links for contacting the organization.
The open-access nature of the catalog supports transparency and collaboration. It encourages participation from all parts of the space community, from early-stage startups to established primes and government agencies.
Recent Developments and Updates
As the space sector evolves, so does the catalog. Periodic updates ensure that new capabilities—such as those related to space sustainability, in-orbit servicing, and artificial intelligence for satellite data—are reflected. The catalog is also expanding to accommodate new categories, including services related to climate resilience, security applications, and cislunar infrastructure.
These updates make the catalog a dynamic tool that adapts to industry changes and reflects emerging trends. It provides insight into the evolving landscape of UK space capabilities, which is especially helpful in strategic planning and identifying future opportunities.
Summary
The Catapult Space Capabilities Catalog provides a practical and evolving view of the UK space sector. By bringing visibility to the wide range of technical and service capabilities across the country, it enables collaboration, supports innovation, and strengthens the supply chain. Accessible to businesses, researchers, investors, and policymakers, the catalog has become a central resource for growing the UK’s space economy. Its continued development will help ensure that the UK remains competitive in the global space arena.
