Scotland aims for a share in a £4 billion share of interstellar industry
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A new strategy to secure a £4 billion share of the global space market for Scotland has been published, highlighting the pioneering contribution being made by the Highlands.
The Scottish Space Strategy sets out plans to develop a network of satellite launch sites, pursue green technologies and build on existing strengths in analysis and research.
It is a collaboration between the Scottish Government, enterprise agencies, industry group Space Scotland and the Scottish Space Academic Forum.
In a joint foreword to the strategy Badenoch MSP and finance secretary Kate Forbes and business minister Ivan McKee said: “Scotland’s space sector has reached a pivotal moment in its evolution and the Scottish Government is delighted to have worked alongside industry and academia to develop this joint strategy.
“The space sector has been one of Scotland’s best kept secrets. Over the course of a few short years, our nation has developed a world class capability. World class in small satellite manufacturing, with a cluster of companies in Glasgow producing more small satellites than any other city in Europe; world class in data analysis and exploitation, with Edinburgh hosting the largest centre for informatics in Europe, and the location of more than 170 data sciences companies.
“And, in the Highlands and Islands, we are making great progress toward realising the final piece of the end-to-end space value chain – launch capability – with vertical launch sites in the advanced stages of development and, working alongside Scottish based launch vehicle manufacturers, launches set to take place in the very near future.
"All of this leads to an ambition of targetting a £4 billion share of the global space market and 20,000 jobs in the sector by 2030. Space is also a priority for our enterprise agencies, Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise, which provide support to companies across the supply chain.”
