Astral Systems: Powering the future of cancer treatment through fusion

With multiple nominations at the SPARKies Awards 2026, Astral Systems continues to cement its reputation as one of the South West's most exciting deeptech businesses. John Talbot and Katie Foister of Bishop Fleming spoke with Sharon Peters, Director of Communications at Astral Systems, about the company's rapid growth, breakthrough fusion technology, and what it means to be recognised across three award categories.

For a company that took home Startup of the Year at last year's SPARKies, Astral Systems' latest nominations are further evidence of just how quickly things are moving.

It's incredible to be nominated for three SPARKies Awards. How did that feel?

We were absolutely delighted. It's a fantastic opportunity to showcase some of the achievements we've been celebrating as a team over the past year.

A huge amount has happened recently. We've welcomed some exceptional talent, including a former NASA scientist whose previous work helped lay the foundations for the company. Bringing in people with that level of expertise is a real milestone for us and reflects the calibre of talent we're now attracting.

We've also grown significantly. Just a few years ago, we were a team of only a handful of people; today, we're almost 30. It feels as though every month brings something new to celebrate, whether that's a breakthrough in the technology, a new partnership, or customers returning to work with us again.

For those unfamiliar with the business, how would you describe what Astral Systems does?

At our core, we're developing compact multi-state fusion modules.

One of the most exciting applications of our technology is the production of medical isotopes used in cancer diagnosis and treatment. There's currently a significant global shortage of these isotopes, and the UK remains heavily reliant on imports.

Our approach is to produce them locally using small-scale fusion reactors, allowing isotopes to be created closer to hospitals and delivered to patients more quickly.

While fusion is often associated with future energy generation, we're focused on medical applications right now because that's where we believe we can make an immediate and meaningful impact.

What makes your technology different, and why is this the right time for it?

Our Multi-State Fusion technology enables fusion reactions to take place in a much more compact and efficient way than traditional systems.

Rather than relying on a small number of large facilities, our reactors can be deployed at a far smaller scale. This helps decentralise isotope production and reduces dependence on ageing infrastructure, which is one of the major challenges facing the current supply chain.

The ultimate goal is simple: better access to diagnosis and treatment, fewer delays for patients, and improved healthcare outcomes.

You were named Startup of the Year at last year's SPARKies. What has changed since then?

At the time, we were still a small team, so the award meant a great deal to us.

It provided valuable validation for what we were building, helped raise our profile, and opened doors to new conversations and opportunities. That recognition created momentum, and we've continued to build on it ever since.

Being nominated across multiple categories this year is a reflection of how far we've come in a relatively short period of time.

Internally, though, what we're most proud of is the culture we've created. We've worked hard to build a high-trust environment where ideas can be challenged, communication is open, and people feel empowered to contribute. That's been a key factor in helping us move quickly and innovate effectively.

What's next for Astral Systems, and how important is the South West to that journey?

The next 12 months are all about scaling.

We're increasing production capacity and growing from a small number of reactors to significantly more over the coming year. Alongside that, we're working with international partners and universities in regions where isotope supply is limited, while continuing to develop new isotopes that could address major unmet needs in healthcare.

The South West has been an important part of our journey so far. There's a thriving ecosystem of founders, researchers, universities and support organisations here, and being part of that community has helped us build momentum at pace.

Being recognised at the SPARKies once again is something the whole team is incredibly proud of. It gives us an opportunity to reflect on how far we've come, celebrate what we've achieved together, and channel that energy into the next stage of our growth.

Astral Systems is shortlisted for Best Tech for Good, Engineering Product/Business of the Year and HealthTech Business of The Year at the 2026 SPARKies Awards.