The rapid growth of the global low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite communications sector, coupled with intensifying competition in next-generation communications technologies, is driving strong demand across the supply chain and reshaping the global space economy.
Under a startup development program led by Taiwan's Ministry of Economic Affairs, the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI), through its Commercialization and Industry Services Center, organized the "2026 Taiwan-UK-France Next-Generation Communications & Space Industry Delegation." From March 3 to 12, 2026, the delegation brought together over 11 Taiwanese space and communications startups, established companies, and industry representatives to London, Oxford, Toulouse, and Paris.
During the visit, the delegation attended major industry events, including Space-Comm Expo and Paris Space Week, and engaged with key European stakeholders such as the UK Department for Business and Trade (DBT), Eutelsat OneWeb, Thales Alenia Space, Airbus Defence and Space, and CNES. These engagements enabled Taiwanese companies to establish linkages across the European space supply chain, from components to system integration.
Building on the foundation established during its 2025 UK visit, ITRI further strengthened international collaboration by signing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Space South Central, a leading space cluster in southern England. The partnership focuses on advancing aerospace supply chain integration, promoting bilateral industry engagement, and supporting startup selection and international expansion. It also aims to establish a long-term Taiwan-UK collaboration platform for the space industry, reinforcing ITRI’s role in accelerating the global reach of Taiwan's SpaceTech startups.
Expanding Opportunities at Space-Comm Expo
Space-Comm Expo, one of Europe's leading commercial space exhibitions, was held from March 4 to 5, 2026, at ExCeL London, attracting over 250 companies and approximately 6,900 industry and academic professionals.
The Taiwan Pavilion, "Taiwan Space," was prominently located at the center of the exhibition hall and served as a key engagement hub. On the opening day, a Taiwan-UK Cultural Exchange Tea Reception welcomed international partners, government representatives, and industry experts, fostering dialogue in a relaxed setting and drawing strong visitor interest.
One-on-one meetings were arranged between the delegation and leading UK satellite companies, including BAE Systems and Filtronic, focusing on collaboration opportunities in the satellite component supply chain. Additional engagements were conducted with the Space Denmark delegation and companies affiliated with Space South Central, enhancing the visibility of Taiwanese startups in Europe and laying the groundwork for future partnerships.
On March 5, ITRI convened the Taiwan-UK Space Industry Roundtable in collaboration with Satellite Applications Catapult (SA Catapult). CEO John Abbott delivered a keynote on UK satellite application market trends. The roundtable brought together representatives from ESA Business Incubation Centre, Airbus Launchpad, and Open Cosmos, facilitating direct engagement on technology applications and supply chain integration while strengthening prospects for international collaboration.
Taiwan Pavilion Takes Center Stage
In addition to facilitating direct engagement between the delegation and the UK space sector, ITRI hosted the "Taiwan Country Showcase" on the main stage of Space-Comm Expo on March 4, highlighting Taiwan's comprehensive space industry capabilities.
The session was moderated by Jessi Fu, Manager of the Strategic Alliances & Marketing Department at ITRI's Startup Ecosystem & Incubation Division. Featured speakers included Julien Hennequin, Senior Business Development Manager at Tensor Tech; Henry Chen, Senior Manager at BaseTech; and Lloyd Jacob Lopez, Co-Founder of HEX20. Together, they presented a systematic overview of Taiwan's space industry, spanning from key components to system-level integration. The session attracted nearly 100 European industry participants and sparked lively on-site discussions, significantly enhancing the global visibility of Taiwan's space sector.
On March 5, ITRI further organized the "Global Industry Showcase," a dedicated technology forum for Taiwanese startups. This session enabled delegation members to directly present their latest technological advancements to European industry stakeholders, covering forward-looking domains such as B5G/6G communications, satellite manufacturing, and space applications. The forum effectively demonstrated Taiwan's unique competitiveness and innovation capabilities within the global space industry.
Harwell Campus, located on the outskirts of Oxford, is a key hub in the global space sector. Following the conclusion of Space-Comm Expo, ITRI arranged a visit on March 6 to the UK Satellite Applications Catapult, followed by a tour of RAL Space, the UK's national satellite testing facility. These visits provided delegation members with deeper insights into the UK's capabilities in satellite applications and testing and validation.
An additional exchange session was held at the Magdrive Lab, where delegation members engaged with representatives from more than 10 UK space companies. The session further strengthened existing networks and facilitated follow-up discussions on potential collaborations and business opportunities.
In addition, the delegation visited Eutelsat OneWeb in London's West End, where they held in-depth discussions with Neha Idnani, Regional Vice President for APAC. The exchanges focused on exploring cross-border collaboration opportunities in low Earth orbit satellite communications, wireless communications, Internet of Things (IoT), and artificial intelligence (AI) applications.
Toulouse Engagements Highlight France's Aerospace Ecosystem
Following the conclusion of Space-Comm Expo, ITRI organized the delegation’s visit to France from March 9 to 11. The group first traveled to Toulouse - widely recognized as France's "Silicon Valley" for aerospace and one of Europe's leading aerospace hubs - to engage with key players in the regional space industry ecosystem. During Paris Space Week 2026, the delegation also conducted business meetings with international buyers and investors from more than 150 companies across over 40 countries, expanding collaboration opportunities beyond those initiated at Space-Comm Expo.
Upon arrival in France on March 9, ITRI arranged visits to satellite mission service provider Loft Orbital and nanosatellite manufacturer U-Space. In addition, a joint matchmaking and exchange session was organized with GIFAS (the French Aerospace Industries Association) and Aerospace Valley, facilitating technical exchanges and one-on-one business meetings between Taiwanese and French companies. These engagements enabled delegation members to explore multiple potential collaboration opportunities and establish follow-on business collaborations.
On the following day, the delegation visited Thales Alenia Space, one of the world's leading satellite system manufacturers; Univity, a French startup; Eutelsat, a major low Earth orbit satellite communications operator based in Toulouse; and Airbus Defence and Space, Europe's largest space and defense systems provider. These visits provided valuable insights into the technological developments and supply chain requirements of major European system integrators. Direct engagement with key decision-makers also enabled in-depth discussions on product applications and partnership models, further strengthening the feasibility of Taiwanese companies entering international markets.
During Paris Space Week 2026, ITRI continued to facilitate business matchmaking and engagement with global space industry stakeholders, supporting delegation members in expanding potential collaboration pipelines. Notably, prior to the main delegation itinerary, Taiwan’s Small and Medium Enterprise and Startup Administration (SMESA), together with ITRI, visited Station F - Europe's largest startup incubator - to proactively establish an international network for space startups and deepen connections between Taiwan and Europe's innovation ecosystems.
Overall, the initiative effectively enabled Taiwanese companies to access the European supply chain, delivering tangible outcomes in business matchmaking, technology exchange, and brand visibility. The visit not only generated concrete orders and follow-up collaboration opportunities, but also provided deeper insights into the European space industry landscape, laying a solid foundation for long-term international partnerships.
Strengthening Taiwan's Global Space Position
The delegation included nine startups and SMEs from the TAcc+ program, along with two major industry associations, covering key areas such as satellite manufacturing, communication subsystems, ground equipment, payload applications, and system integration.
The initiative resulted in multiple high-level business matchmaking engagements and the signing of the MOU with Space South Central, marking a significant milestone in advancing the internationalization of Taiwan's space industry.
Looking ahead, ITRI will continue to build on its strengths in international engagement and delegation planning, aligned with the TAcc+ program, to follow up on collaboration opportunities generated during the visit. It will also actively attract high-potential European space startups to establish a presence in Taiwan, further enhancing the global competitiveness and long-term development of Taiwan’s space sector.
TAcc+ hosted the Taiwan Country Showcase at Space-Comm Expo, highlighting Taiwan's space industry. Credit: ITRI
