THE Scottish Government has launched a new strategy in a bid to secure a £4 billion share of the global space market.
It will seek to position Scotland as a global leader for commercial space developments, as well as establishing a range of managed launch and orbital services which the government said would support the largest launch capability in Europe.
Further to this, a ‘world-leading’ environmental strategy is planned through the use of satellite data for environmental monitoring.
Launching the plan virtually at Expo 2020 Dubai, Scottish Government business minister, Ivan McKee, said, “The Scottish space strategy demonstrates the determination of our space community to work together to deliver this ambitious agenda.
“Our aims are clear – we want to achieve a £4 billion share of the global space market, deliver a dedicated launch capability as early as next year and create 20,000 jobs in the sector by 2030. We will broaden the diversity of the sector, increase its sustainability, exports and inward investment, and enhance education to inspire the next generation of space industry workers.
“The potential is enormous. Our targets are similarly far reaching and I am confident we can achieve them.”
Chair of Space Scotland, Craig Clark, added, “This strategy represents a landmark in the development of the Scottish space sector and looks to build on the impressive growth and momentum the sector has demonstrated over the past decade.
“The strategy sets out a framework for growth, making Scotland an end-to-end space system provider for the rapidly expanding global market. We have a young, dynamic community of space companies and are ready to take the Scottish space sector to the next level.”
Scottish Space Academic Forum chair, Professor Iain Woodhouse, commented, “We are fully behind this exciting initiative. It will be the new talent and scientific innovation coming out of Scottish higher education institutions that forms the bedrock of the Scottish space sector and we are ready to step up and fulfil that role to ensure the strategy is a success.”
