Advancing UK Aerospace, Defence, Security & Space Solutions Worldwide

Space

Serco acquires Sapienza

Serco Group plc has entered into an agreement to acquire Sapienza Group, from TP Group plc, to expand its offering to the European space sector.

Image courtesy Serco

The transaction is subject to final regulatory approvals and is expected to close in the coming weeks.

Sapienza, based in the Netherlands, is a leading European provider of consulting services and digital solutions to demanding clients in high-tech, high-reliability and critical sectors, focusing on space and also working in defence and security.

Advertisement
ODU RT

The acquisition will strengthen Serco’s space portfolio and expand our offering and capabilities in the fast-growing space market, supporting the group’s growth strategy of becoming a leading European provider of complex managed services for the space sector.

The transaction will bring 150 highly skilled people to Serco Europe’s operations, doubling our presence in the Netherlands.  They will join the 1,600 Serco colleagues who are currently working on civil and military space programmes in Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, France, the UK, the US, Canada and Australia and several other European countries.

Globally, space is a key sector for Serco and the business is rapidly growing in all the regions in which we operate.  Serco works for the European Space Agency (ESA), EUMETSAT, DLR, NASA, and the UK Ministry of Defence and has been active in the space sector for over 40 years.

Sapienza’s digital solutions include Eclipse, a project management tool of choice with over 25,000 users across government agencies and commercial space companies. The software suite is used on more than 50 ESA space missions and is already supported by Serco in ESA.

“It’s a great strategic fit for our customers and our people”, says Gaëtan Desclée, CEO Serco Europe, “we know Sapienza well, having worked alongside each other on many occasions. The combination of exceptional talent, capabilities and resources will create exciting learning and development opportunities for our teams and enable Serco to meet our clients’ rapidly evolving needs even better.”

Advertisement
PTC rectangle

Desclée added: “Sapienza’s 25-year experience serving the European Space Agency and European space sector complements Serco’s 40-year support to the ESA. We see great opportunities ahead for our combined business. The expertise and resources being brought together will enable us to secure these opportunities for the benefit of our customers, our business and our people.”

 

 

Advertisement
Gulfstream banner
UK and Ukraine strengthen civil space cooperation

Space

UK and Ukraine strengthen civil space cooperation

18 March 2026

A landmark agreement between the UK Space Agency and State Space Agency of Ukraine (SSAU) will open a new chapter in civil and commercial space cooperation between the two countries.

Met Office launches MAVIS

Aerospace Security Space

Met Office launches MAVIS

18 March 2026

The Met Office have officially launched the Met Office Aeronautical Visualisation Service (MAVIS) - a next-generation aviation weather platform designed to support a rapidly evolving aviation landscape, from traditional crewed aircraft to emerging spaceport operations.

Viasat

Aerospace Space

Viasat's advanced in-flight connectivity selected by National Airlines

17 March 2026

Viasat today announced that its advanced in-flight connectivity has been selected by charter operator National Airlines to enhance the passenger experience onboard a new fleet of three Airbus A330 aircraft.

ODU joins the UN Global Compact

Aerospace Defence Security Space

ODU joins the UN Global Compact

17 March 2026

Manufacturer of connector systems, ODU, has joined the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC), the world’s largest sustainability and corporate responsibility initiative.

Advertisement
PTC rectangle
UK–South Africa partnership using AI to make telescopes smarter

Space

UK–South Africa partnership using AI to make telescopes smarter

16 March 2026

AI is set to transform how South Africa’s astronomical observatories operate, as the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) Hartree Centre is working with the South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO), a centre for optical and infrared astronomy, to deliver the ‘Intelligent Observatory’ programme.

Cranfield University unveils wind-powered WANDER-bot

Space

Cranfield University unveils wind-powered WANDER-bot

13 March 2026

Researchers at Cranfield University have created WANDER-bot, a low-cost, 3D-printed robot that is powered by wind energy.

Advertisement
ODU RT
Advertisement
Gulfstream banner