Space has potential to play major part in Scotland as industry booms, minister says

Glasgow welcomed its first Space-Comm Expo on Wednesday, September 11, as the two-day conference looked to showcase the best in innovative industry and academic talent while celebrating the rapid growth of Scotland’s space sector.

The Scottish Government has voiced its ambition to carve a share of £4 billion of the global space market by 2030 and has already made steps by investing in projects like Orbex Space’s rocket launching program.

Speaking at the conference, Richard Lochhead, Scottish Government Minister for Business, said that Scotland has ambitions to contribute to major space projects like lunar discovery missions.

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He said: “Scotland’s space sector has grown exponentially over a few short years, and it’s got huge potential to become a major Scottish industry built on the back of innovative companies, university research, expertise and technology.

“Already, we have nearly 6500 well-paid jobs in the sector that pay two to two and a half times the average salary in Scotland.

“This is definitely a sector worth focusing on given our international strengths as a country.”

He added: “Space is becoming more and more relevant to people’s everyday lives and indeed, trade and business.

“Not just through satellites, but clearly, as the world looks to, more discovery and lunar missions and beyond the vehicles and equipment that are going to be required for these kinds of projects that are worth billions of dollars.

“Perhaps Scotland can contribute to some of that technology.”

The MSP also announced at the conference that space entrepreneur Daniel Smith will lead a new position within the Scottish Government’s international business network as the first sector-specific envoy.

Smith’s role will help identify new business and investment opportunities for the Scottish Government while representing the country’s space sector at international events.

Scotland already plays a large role in the space sector as it is the world’s second-biggest manufacturer of small satellites.

Lochhead believes that Scotland can expand this industry to tackle environmental issues like climate change and forest fires as he said: “As science and technology progresses, it’s becoming clearer and clearer that many of the solutions to problems we are experiencing on Earth may be found in space.

“That ranges from satellites being used to monitor climate change and related issues like forest fires and other data gathering projects to the fact that as we potentially exhaust precious raw materials on planet Earth.

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“Humankind looks to finding raw materials on other planets and, you know, even mining asteroids and countries and companies around the world are investing millions into these potential avenues for future commercial opportunities.

“So, my question is, what’s Scotland’s role in the future to grasp a slice of that action.”