SSAC SPACE SCOPING AGREEMENT
Project Title: Exploring the potential future commercial opportunities for Scotland’s Space Sector
Project overview: The Scottish Government has identified the Space sector as a key economic opportunity for the future through the National Strategy for Economic Transformation, the Inward Investment Plan and the recently published National Innovation Strategy.
In November 2021, the Scottish Space sector, comprising industry, academia and government, launched Scotland’s first ever Space Strategy the outlined a number of key actions to support the continued growth of the sector. The actions focused around Inward Investment; International Trade; Launch; Infrastructure, Sustainability; Skills and Outreach; and Future Commercial Opportunities.
Scotland is currently in the process of developing the full end-to-end value chain for small satellites, that is to say that small satellites will be able to be designed, manufactured, launched and the data exploited for applications and services all within the confines of Scotland. This end-to-end value chain with sustainability embedded throughout the sector places Scotland in an enviable position throughout Europe and further afield.
Whilst Scotland occupies a relatively strong position currently in respect to small satellites, it is important that we continue to consider and assess the longer-term future opportunities within the global space sector and to put in place the building blocks to ensure that Scotland can maintain a globally competitive position and benefit both economically and societally from a strong space sector.
Aims and objectives:
The project is intended to review the potential future global opportunities for the space sector and offer recommendations to highlight the future opportunities that are best aligned to the existing and potential strengths of the Scottish space ecosystem, taking into consideration existing areas of industrial capability within and out-with the space sector and academic research in relevant areas, particular consideration may be given to opportunities aligned with the other priority areas identified within the National Innovation Strategy. The project should also seek to set out the actions that the collective ecosystem should look to progress in order to position Scotland to maximise the economic opportunities including setting out where the respective ownership of relevant actions best sit.
The report will identify:
A prioritised list of the future opportunities within the global space sector over the next 10 – 20 years, aligned with Scotland’s research and industry strengths, and opportunities for commercial and social benefits.
An associated set of actions to help Scotland’s research community to be well positioned to support Scotland’s space sector to capture the identified opportunities, including where respective ownership best sits between industry, academia and government.
The main challenges that will need to be overcome across the identified opportunities.
A consideration of potential international collaboration partners that have complementary ambitions and/or capabilities.
Key findings of a short examination of comparable international markets.
Relevance to Scottish Government:
Space is currently recognised as a key economic opportunity for Scotland. The SSAC project will directly support thinking in respect to the Scottish Space Strategy’s Action on Future Commercial Opportunities.
Format: SSAC will produce
Methodology:
We will create an SSAC Working Group of up to 6 participants.
We will undertake an initial horizon scanning exercise exploring emerging science and technology relevant to the space sector, and aligned with the strengths of Scotland’s ecosystem, with opportunities for exploitation in the next 10-20 years.
Informed by the horizon scanning, we will develop a survey questionnaire to be issued to relevant stakeholders in industry, academia and the wider public sector.
Informed by the survey responses, we will hold a virtual half day workshop with key stakeholders to enable a “deep dive” into opportunities and challenges.
The Working Group will use the outputs of the workshop, survey and horizon scanning to produce a short report for SG containing the deliverables identified above.
Time line:
Create WG – 2 weeks
Horizon Scanning 2 months
Survey and Workshop 2 months
Write up – 1 month
Examples of key stakeholders:
Space Scotland
Scottish Space Academic Forum
Scottish Government Space Group
Scottish International Space Advisory Committee (SISAC)
SG policy contact: Scott McClelland and Rory McGregor, New Market Clusters Unit
Research previously undertaken (for awareness):
Horizon scanning papers produced by Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
Concept papers produced by SISAC