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Unlocking Space for Business: In-orbit R&D and manufacturing of pharmaceuticals RFI

Department for Science, Innovation & Technology

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

13 Aug 2026 at 09:51

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Department for Science, Innovation & Technology, through the UK Space Agency, is exploring how to develop the market for in-orbit pharmaceutical manufacturing and drug discovery. The planned scope covers research and development in space, pharmaceutical manufacturing, regulatory clarity and commercialisation. It is intended to inform future government support and commercial activity addressing barriers faced by space biotech companies, pharmaceutical end-users, investors, academia and other industry stakeholders. Relevant expertise may include space systems and satellite platforms, spacecraft and launch services, pharmaceuticals, biopharma, drug discovery, microgravity research, healthcare and regulatory affairs. The activity is UK-focused, with delivery relating to the United Kingdom. The agency is seeking evidence and views rather than purchasing a defined service at this stage.

This process is at the planning stage and is currently a Request for Information, not an invitation to tender or an existing funding opportunity. The UK Space Agency expects to use the information to shape possible future non-financial support interventions and commercial activities. It asked for RFI responses by 17:00 BST on 7 September 2026; the planning milestone is recorded for 8 September 2026. An indicative future notice date is 31 March 2027. One planned lot is shown, with an anticipated contract period from 1 April 2027 to 31 March 2030. The recorded procurement value is £0. The activity is below threshold. The buyer may follow up with clarification questions and has indicated that responding will not affect participation in future opportunities.

This engagement should suit organisations preparing to influence, or later participate in, work on commercialising pharmaceuticals manufactured in orbit and space-enabled pharmaceutical research. The buyer is particularly seeking insight from space biotech companies, prospective pharmaceutical end-users, investors, academia, industry and other stakeholders with direct experience of commercialisation barriers. Useful contributions are likely to draw on in-orbit research or manufacturing, microgravity biopharma, drug discovery, pharmaceutical development, satellite or spacecraft operations, regulatory compliance, healthcare and investment. Organisations with experience of working across government, regulators and international partners may be well placed to explain practical barriers and effective interventions. Small and medium-sized enterprises and voluntary, community or social enterprises are identified as suitable for the planned lot. This is preparation for future activity, not a current bid opportunity.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Unlocking Space for Business: In-orbit R&D and manufacturing of pharmaceuticals RFI

Notice Description

The UK Space Agency is working across government, regulators, industry and healthcare to help create the conditions needed for the in-orbit pharmaceuticals manufacturing and drug discovery market to develop. USB has played a convening role in bringing together the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and the Regulatory Innovation Office (RIO) within the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade (BIST) to publish a joint statement on regulatory clarity for in-orbit manufacturing of pharmaceuticals. We are also working with MHRA to develop a regulatory roadmap for space-enabled pharmaceutical manufacturing, to provide greater clarity and confidence for industry. Following sustained evidence-gathering from the Unlocking Space Portfolio, including participation in the recent UK-Swiss Microgravity Biopharma Dialogue, clear pain-points and barriers to the adoption of in-orbit manufacturing of pharmaceuticals have emerged, which are currently experienced by UK stakeholders including prospective end-users, space biotech companies and investors. This Request for Information (RFI) builds directly on this Dialogue, and the questions below are designed to test, validate and extend that evidence base with wider stakeholder input. The UK Space Agency requests your input to ensure that any future support or commercialisation opportunities for in-orbit manufacturing of pharmaceuticals or in-orbit R&D directly address these identified barriers and are prioritised based on the needs of stakeholders in this domain. This RFI will help guide the UK Space Agency's interventions for space biopharma companies, prospective pharmaceutical end-users and space/biotech investors. This RFI is not directly connected to an existing funding route, but it may help to shape and inform future non-financial support interventions and commercial activities. We welcome your responses and are grateful in advance for the time and effort taken in replying to this Request for Information. Our aims - what we want to achieve The goals of this Request for Information are: To understand what existing and new barriers industry, end-users, academia and investors are facing on the commercialisation of IOM pharmaceuticals or in-orbit pharmaceuticals R&D, and the impact of these barriers; To understand what interventions have been effective at addressing these identified barriers and what new interventions would further support IOM pharmaceuticals or in-orbit pharmaceuticals R&D; and To understand where government is best placed to address these barriers and what international comparators we could learn from to inform potential future government interventions. This RFI is not related to any ongoing or future funding calls from the UK Space Agency, but it may help to shape and inform future non-financial support interventions and commercial activities. The UK Space Agency does not commit to cover any cost incurred in the preparation or submission of any response to the RFI. Responding or failing to respond to this RFI will not preclude the respondents from participating in any future UK Space Agency calls or requests for information or other funding opportunities. In recognition of stakeholder availability over the summer period, the deadline for responses is 17:00 BST, 7 September 2026. If more time is needed to provide a response or if there are additional questions about the process, please contact UKSA.commercial@dsit.gov.uk with "Unlocking Space for Business IOM Pharma RFI" as the subject line. An email confirmation of receipt from the UK Space Agency will be sent within a one-week period to the designated point of contact. The UK Space Agency reserves the right to follow-up and ask clarification questions on any responses.

Planning Information

To view the RFI in full, including the questionnaire for those interested in providing information to the UK Space Agency please contact the following inbox: UKSA.commercial@dsit.gov.uk We will respond with: - Request For Information: Unlocking Space for Business: In-orbit R&D and manufacturing of pharmaceuticals Please note responses to the RFI questions must be received by Monday 7th September 2026

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06e33a
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/077059-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

32 - Radio, television, communication, telecommunication and related equipment

33 - Medical equipments, pharmaceuticals and personal care products

34 - Transport equipment and auxiliary products to transportation

73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

CPV Codes

32534000 - Satellite platforms

33000000 - Medical equipments, pharmaceuticals and personal care products

34712000 - Spacecraft, satellites and launch vehicles

73110000 - Research services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
13 Aug 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
31 Mar 20278 months to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Apr 2027 - 31 Mar 2030 3-4 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planning
Lots Status
Planning
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Department for Science, Innovation & Technology
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
LONDON
Postcode
SW1A 2EG
Postcode Area
South West London
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLI London
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLI3 Inner London - West
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLI35 Westminster and City of London
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Westminster
Electoral Ward
St James's
Westminster Constituency
Cities of London and Westminster

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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