New Partnerships to Boost Scotland’s Space Sector – Scottish Business News

The Scottish Space Network is pleased to announce the appointment of its first wave of Founding Partners, a crucial step in the company’s mission to support the burgeoning space sector in Scotland.

The new partners include commercial lawyers Burness Paull, innovation experts Eureka!Europe, accountancy and business advisory firm Johnston Carmichael and international intellectual property (IP) specialists Marks & Clerk.

Collectively the Founding Partners bring a wealth of knowledge, expertise, support and resources that will be instrumental in driving innovation, developing entrepreneurial companies and delivering commercial success for the Scottish space industry.

This strategic collaboration aims to strengthen Scotland’s position in the global space market, driving forward the national ambition to become a leading location for the full ‘end to end’ of space technology and services. A programme of support activity and resources is to be developed and rolled out over the next 12 months.

Burness Paull

Burness Paull is a full-service independent commercial law firm advising clients across the UK and internationally.

Callum Sinclair, Partner and Head of Technology and Commercial at Burness Paull, stated: “With Scotland at the heart of the UK’s space industry, we’re very excited to join the Scottish Space Network as a founding partner and play our part in helping the sector realise its ambitions.

“From advising growing businesses creating world-class tech to being involved in the development of the Sutherland Spaceport project, we’ve long been part of the ecosystem providing legal advice across a range of business areas including funding & investment, employment & immigration, and cyber & data privacy.

“The Scottish Space Network is a driving force behind the sector and we look forward to adding value to members and other partners alike.”

Eureka!Europe

Eureka!Europe provides crucial innovation consulting and coaching support, further strengthening the network’s capabilities to drive bold ideas and sustainable growth within the space sector.

Philip Pozzo di Borgo-Oliver, Partner at Eureka!Europe commented: “Having worked closely with organisations in the UK aerospace and defence sectors, the Eureka!Europe team knows how these businesses need to innovate and test disruptive ideas quickly within a dynamic business environment.

“It’s about agile problem-solving while driving down the risk of trying new things. Eureka!Europe is proud to help realise Dr Andy Campbell’s vision for the Scottish Space Network as a Founding Partner, and we look forward to helping organisations leverage and scale the extraordinary opportunity that is the UK and Europe’s multi-billion dollar space economy.”

Johnston Carmichael

Johnston Carmichael, an independent chartered accountancy and business advisory firm with a strong focus on its people and clients, brings almost 90 years of expertise to the network.

Jim Lockhart, Business Advisory Partner at Johnston Carmichael commented: “The Space Sector in Scotland is a hugely exciting one, and it feels like a natural evolution for us as a country to be so heavily involved.

“As a firm, we are looking forward to working with the Scottish Space Network and doing our bit to support the ecosystem.

“We have significant experience of supporting entrepreneurs and innovative businesses, and working with dynamic partners like Andy is key to delivering success.”

Marks & Clerk

Marks & Clerk is a leading international IP firm with offices in the UK, North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific. With patent attorneys, trademark attorneys, commercial lawyers, and IP litigators, the firm offers comprehensive IP expertise to clients ranging from multinational corporations to start-ups.

Dr. Phil Merchant, Principal Chartered (UK) and European Patent Attorney, stated: “As a firm with a rich history of supporting technological innovation, Marks & Clerk is thrilled to join the Scottish Space Network as a Founding Partner.

“The space sector in Scotland is rapidly advancing, and we are eager to contribute our expertise in intellectual property to help safeguard and promote the groundbreaking developments emerging from this dynamic industry.

“We look forward to collaborating with the network and its partners to drive forward the vision of Scotland as a global leader in space technology.”

Mission and Future Plans

Established in 2023, The Scottish Space Network is dedicated to supporting the sector by promoting the achievements of Scottish SpaceTech companies, attracting investment, nurturing talent pipelines and developing commercial opportunities.

In June 2024, the Scottish Space Network announced its partnership with New York-based Sustainable Alpha. This partnership will open up investment opportunities for the Scottish, UK and international space sectors, focusing on developing a comprehensive investment strategy and securing funding for early-stage and scaling space tech businesses.

The Scottish Space sector is expected to grow substantially, with revenue projected to reach £4bn within the next six years and the creation of over 12,000 new jobs by 2030.

Speaking from the Farnborough International Airshow 2024, Dr. Andy Campbell, Founder of the Scottish Space Network, expressed his enthusiasm for the new partnerships: “We are delighted to welcome Burness Paull, Eureka!Europe, Johnston Carmichael and Marks & Clerk as Founding Partners of the Scottish Space Network.

“Collectively, their expertise and commitment will be invaluable as we work together to support and elevate Scotland’s space sector on the global stage.

“This collaboration marks a significant step towards achieving our mission of fostering innovation, attracting investment and nurturing talent within the space industry.

“We look forward to rolling out our activity, announcing more partners in the coming weeks and continuing to build a strong, supportive ecosystem with all space and sectoral support companies in Scotland.”

This news comes after the announcement that Scotland’s Space Sector is set to receive a £10.9 million boost from the UK Government, announced on Monday 22^nd July 2024 by Scottish Secretary Ian Murray.

This funding is part of a larger £33 million pledge under the UK Space Agency’s national space innovation programme.

Key Scottish projects include a sub-orbital rocket test by HyImpulse at the SaxaVord Spaceport UK and Spire’s development of advanced weather forecasting technology.

Additionally, three smaller projects will receive £2.4 million for early-stage development, including lunar exploration feasibility studies.

Speaking at the Farnborough International Airshow, Ian Murray said: “The burgeoning industry plays a vital role in our economy and employs thousands of people across the country.”

Further announcements of additional partners are expected in the coming weeks.