Guildford hosts UK heat of global space challenge with zero-gravity prize, showcasing Surrey's role in the UK space industry

Surrey Research Park in Guildford hosted the UK heat of Act In Space 2026 over the weekend, bringing the UK heat of a global space innovation challenge to Surrey for the first time and putting the region's space ecosystem in the spotlight.

Around 75 people entered the fast-paced 24-hour competition, joining teams in more than 90 locations worldwide in the simultaneous event backed by the European Space Agency (ESA), the French Space Agency (CNES) and a network of industry partners including Airbus, which has a presence at Surrey Research Park.

The winning team,IRONSTAR (Sundaresh Sundaragopal, Pietro De Rigo Piter and Vasil Pachedzhiev), from University College London (UCL), impressed judges with a concept proposing a new approach to pricing space debris risk to help protect space assets.

As UK heat winners, the team is now a step closer to a zero-gravity flight and the chance to help launch a new space start-up based on their idea. They will represent the UK at the global finals in Bordeaux, France, in April.

This weekend's UK heat also showcased the depth of expertise across our region. Teams were supported by mentors and specialists from the University of Surrey as well as Surrey Research Park's space business community, including Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (SSTL), IsardSAT, Actica Consulting and Venner Shipley, as they developed real-world solutions to unsolved challenges in the space sector.

At the end of the 24 hours, teams pitched to a panel of experts from industry and academia, including Prof. Adam Amara, Chief Scientist at the UK Space Agency, Prof. Amara said:

"It's been incredible. I'm really blown away by the level of innovation that we've seen. These young people have only had 24 hours to work on a problem, and what you see is a lot of energy, a lot of excitement, and a huge diversity of ideas coming through. Everything from insurance solutions for space debris to trying to tackle malaria."

Caroline Fleming, Director of the Surrey Innovation District and Lead at Surrey Research Park, said:

"It was an honour and privilege to host the UK heat of Act In Space 2026 and fly the flag for the UK and place Surrey on the global stage. This competition perfectly captures the essence of Surrey Research Park; bringing together innovators and world-class experts, developing cutting-edge skills and providing an innovation hub for businesses and a launchpad to the future. So many of the ideas we saw had the potential to become viable businesses. This is only the beginning, and we're eager to see teams take their concepts forward towards the next generation of space businesses."

Cllr Vanessa King, Lead portfolio holder for Economic Development, added:
"Surrey Research Park's leadership in the space sector is helping to put Guildford firmly on the global stage. By hosting the UK heat of Act In Space 2026 and nurturing companies that are tackling real-world challenges from orbit, we're strengthening Guildford's reputation as a place where high-growth, high-tech businesses choose to innovate and invest. This ecosystem not only supports skilled jobs today, it inspires the next generation of scientists, engineers and entrepreneurs."

Published 28 5 February.