North West Sets Its Sights on Stars with Axiom Space Partnership

In a groundbreaking move, the North West of England is about to rocket its way into the heart of the global space economy. On March 20, 2025, Liverpool City Region Mayor Steve Rotheram and Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham inked a transformational agreement with Axiom Space, a premier developer of commercial space infrastructure, setting the stage for a meteoric rise in space-based activities from the region.

A Visionary Partnership

The North West has always been a cradle of innovation, from the creation of the first passenger railway to groundbreaking advancements in medicine. Now, as the world looks upward, the region is positioning itself at the forefront of space innovation. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed on this day aims to establish the region as a hub for space-based research and development.

Steve Rotheram expressed his enthusiasm for the collaboration, emphasizing that the region’s historical prowess in advanced manufacturing and biotech will now extend to the next great frontier: space. With an anticipated global space economy worth £490 billion by 2030, the North West’s move is timely and strategic.

Strengths Meet Opportunity

Mayor Andy Burnham highlighted the inherent strengths of Greater Manchester in advanced materials, manufacturing, life sciences, and AI. With the new partnership, these sectors are ready to interlock seamlessly with Axiom Space’s objectives, poised to create numerous high-skilled jobs across the city region.

This alliance will focus on leveraging local strengths to tackle global challenges, as well as exploring new paradigms in microgravity research for biotech and medicine. According to Axiom Space, the collaboration will also delve into space-based communications, AI, and cybersecurity, and environmental monitoring using satellite technology.

Empowering Economies Through Space Innovation

Tejpaul Bhatia, Chief Revenue Officer at Axiom Space, shared that the partnership would unlock new markets and economic opportunities by utilizing space-based infrastructure. This includes everything from orbital data centers to orbital laboratories, designed to revolutionize telecommunications, Earth observation, and even in-space manufacturing, paving the way for products and materials impossible to create on Earth.

The Path Forward

With the Liverpool City Region Freeport and Life Sciences Innovation Zone, alongside Greater Manchester’s Investment Zone fostering a rich environment for research and development, the potential for new discoveries through this partnership is endless. By anchoring the North West’s ambition in the vast expanse of space, the region isn’t simply reaching for the stars—it’s planning to stand among them.

The esteemed collaboration with Axiom Space ensures that the next frontier is within reach, promising robust economic growth and inspiring the world to look at Liverpool, Greater Manchester, and the entire UK as leaders in space exploration and innovation.

As the agreement cements the region’s place at the cutting edge of global advancements, it signals exciting times ahead. The North West is primed to play a pivotal role, ensuring that when the world gazes at the galaxy, it sees a bright beacon of progress shining from the United Kingdom.