Ledbury, Herefordshire, 10 July 2025 – The Satcoms Innovation Group (SIG) has announced that the first joint SIG academic and industry workshop will take place at the University of Birmingham on 4th September 2025. The dedicated workshop will bring academia and the satcom industry together to discuss the shifting skill set required by satcom, as well as how to encourage graduates to join the industry.
The event will bring together key players from both academia and the satcom sector to address the growing skills shortage and shifting competency demands within the industry. As satcom continues to evolve toward multi-orbit and multi-band systems, with cloud-based and software-defined infrastructure, the skill sets required are changing rapidly. As a result, universities lack a clear understanding of what the satcom industry needs, which is resulting in a disconnect between what’s being taught in STEM fields and what’s needed in satcom today as well as what will be needed in the future. Additionally, many students remain unaware of satcom as a viable career path, and so more needs to be done to encourage graduates into satcom.
The forthcoming workshop will provide an opportunity for academia and industry to come together to discuss these complex challenges, and to agree how to work together more effectively.
Helen Weedon, SIG Managing Director, commented: “Collaborative working between academic institutions and industry is the key to building a future talent pipeline that meets the industry’s needs. This event is about starting a conversation, one that’s open, collaborative, and designed to develop a shared understanding of the challenges and opportunities ahead. I would like to thank Birmingham University for hosting this very important event.”
Dr Leah-Nani Alconcel, Associate Professor, University of Birmingham, added: “The satcom industry is changing quickly and it’s critical that academia understands what the industry needs in this new landscape, as well as how best to demonstrate the opportunities available to students. Having an opportunity to examine these issues is hugely important, and so we are delighted to host the first academic workshop this September.”
The workshop is open to universities looking to connect with industry, as well as satcom businesses, and will provide an opportunity to engage, share insights, and drive meaningful change.
Registrations for the SIG Academic and Industry Workshop are now open. This event is free to attend for satcom industry and academia. Register here.