The UK recently welcomed over 140 experts from across NATO member states, industry, academia, and international organisations for a high-level meeting focused on dual-use space technologies
Held from 6 to 7 October 2025 in Bath, the NATO Science and Technology Organisation (STO) Research Specialists’ Meeting aimed to address the technical, operational, and regulatory challenges of deploying dual-use technologies in an increasingly contested space environment.
Led by the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL) and NATO’s Systems Concepts and Integration (SCI) Panel, the event was delivered in partnership with the UK Space Agency, reinforcing the UK’s leadership in NATO-aligned space innovation and defence collaboration.
NATO’s space capabilities
The meeting brought together leading voices in space research and defence to define future space capability requirements across the NATO alliance. The discussions focused on key operational areas such as Space Domain Awareness (SDA), Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR), Space Control, Satellite Communications, and emerging technologies like In-Space Servicing, Assembly, and Manufacturing (ISAM).
Co-chaired by the UK Space Agency’s National Security Lead and a representative from the German Aerospace Center (DLR), the event also featured contributions from organisations such as the European Space Agency (ESA) and NATO’s Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA).
The sessions helped lay the groundwork for a Technical Evaluation Report, which will inform NATO’s strategic planning for space technology development in the coming years.
UK’s NATO First’ approach
The UK continues to position itself at the forefront of NATO space efforts, taking a ‘NATO First’ approach to defence and security through innovation and international collaboration. With space identified as a growing domain of global competition, the meeting aligns with the UK government’s broader commitment to bolstering European and transatlantic security.
The UK Space Agency played a big role at the event, delivering workshops and contributing expertise on space-based threat tracking through the National Space Operations Centre (NSpOC). The agency also highlighted dual-use projects supported by the National Space Innovation Programme (NSIP), which promotes technological advancements with both commercial and defence applications.
By fostering cooperation between governments, industry leaders, and researchers, the event aimed to unlock the full potential of dual-use space technologies. These technologies are seen as a strategic asset that can boost economic growth, enhance security, and drive technological innovation across NATO members.
Investments in dual-use capabilities can create a feedback loop of innovation. Commercial demand encourages rapid development, while defence requirements push the limits of what is technically achievable, offering new opportunities for the private sector and research institutions.
The outcomes of the Bath meeting will feed into the NATO Science and Technology Organisation’s Collaborative Programme of Work (CPOW), guiding future research priorities and setting the stage for long-term innovation in space defence technologies.
