Space manufacturing is top of the agenda in SXSW's industry trends report.

Space is shifting from exploration to essential infrastructure, according to a report from industry event organiser South by Southwest (SXSW). 

The report, which highlights most popular topics at SXSW's inaugural festival in London last month, says space is becoming an important part of infrastructure planning, as well as geopolitical strategy. Speakers at the event from the space manufacturing industry said businesses must start treating space as part of their value chain. 

Other leading topics included "agentic AI", the use of AI agents that perform tasks autonomously, a rise in individualistic consumer behaviour and the importance of community investment for brand loyalty. 

At the event, zoologist Dr. Jane Goodall emphasised the importance of individual activism: "We can't leave everything to governments. We can't leave everything to big business."