Dr Paul Bate, Chief Executive Officer of the United Kingdom Space Agency, has confirmed he will step down from his leadership role at the end of March 2026 as the agency approaches a major organisational transition into the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology.

Bate’s departure comes amid the government’s continued effort to integrate the agency’s functions directly within central government, dissolving its status as a semi-independent executive agency in a reform aimed at streamlining space policy and delivery.

Bate has led the UK Space Agency for four and a half years, working closely with ministers to secure record investment commitments at European Space Agency councils, bolster national science leadership, and support the UK space sector’s growth in capabilities and international partnerships.

Under his leadership, the space sector has advanced through flagship initiatives including the National Space Innovation Programme and the Space Clusters Infrastructure Fund, attracting increasing private investment while enhancing the United Kingdom’s scientific and commercial footprint in orbit.

In a statement reflecting on his tenure, Bate described it as the greatest privilege of his career and emphasised the collective effort of the agency’s professionals in advancing the nation’s civil space ambitions.

He signalled that the timing of his departure aligns with the agency’s structural shift into the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, noting that the incoming leader will helm a newly configured organisation with a strengthened mandate to align policy, strategy and delivery in the national interest.

Government officials, including the responsible space minister, paid tribute to Bate’s contributions, highlighting his role in securing investment and fostering collaboration across the sector.

Representatives from the UK space industry also expressed appreciation for his engagement with businesses of all sizes and advocacy for the sector’s objectives.

The planned integration of the UK Space Agency into the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, scheduled for April 2026, is part of a broader administrative realignment aimed at reducing duplication, cutting bureaucracy and enhancing ministerial oversight.

The agency’s name and brand are expected to be retained within the new unit, which will combine policy and delivery functions under a single organisational structure.

Recruitment for the incoming director of the reconstituted agency is underway as stakeholders prepare for the transition and the next phase of the United Kingdom’s space strategy.