UK Space Agency to Join Forces with Tech Department

The UK Space Agency will be integrated into the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) in April 2026, as part of a government drive to cut bureaucracy and accelerate decision-making. Reports Technology News

The move aligns with the wider ambition to reduce duplication across public bodies while streamlining operations. Although becoming a unit within DSIT, the UK Space Agency will continue to operate under its existing name and branding.

DSIT, which oversees scientific development and regulatory frameworks, has also been tasked with fostering economic growth through research and innovation. In line with this, government policy has increasingly encouraged regulators and agencies to adopt growth-focused priorities.

For the UK Space Agency, this has meant a shift away from its traditional reliance on grant funding, towards securing competitive private-sector contracts. With space technology now recognised as a promising engine of economic growth, the agency will come under DSIT’s direct management to strengthen its role in advancing UK capabilities.

“You don’t need to be a rocket scientist to see the importance of space to the British economy,” said Space Minister Chris Bryant.

“This is a sector that pulls investment into the UK, and supports tens of thousands of skilled jobs right across the country, while nearly a fifth of our GDP is dependent on satellites.

“Bringing things in house means we can bring much greater integration and focus to everything we are doing while maintaining the scientific expertise and the immense ambition of the sector.”