Glasgow conference attracts £4.6m investment to Scottish space industry

Scotland's space industry is set to receive a funding injection of 4.6 million to speed up the development of cutting-edge technologies, the UK Space Agency has revealed. Of this, 3.7 million comes from the National Space Innovation Programme (NSIP) and will support four Scottish universities in advancing projects related to satellites and environmental monitoring from space.

The announcement coincides with the opening day of Space-Comm Expo Scotland, the largest space industry event ever hosted in the country. The conference at Glasgow's SEC campus is drawing over 2,300 delegates, 100 speakers, and 80 exhibitors.

Dr. Natasha Nicholson, CEO of Space Scotland, described the investment as a strong endorsement of Scotlands space sector. "These initiatives highlight the depth of our research capabilities and the talent driving innovations in secure communications, environmental observation, and resilient navigationtechnologies that will shape the future of global space infrastructure," she stated.

The universities benefiting from the funding include:

• University of Edinburgh: Developing an instrument to measure pollution from space.
• University of Strathclyde: Creating a satellite navigation system independent of GPS.
• Heriot-Watt University: Building a quantum communication transmitter for small satellites.

Additionally, Strathclyde is part of a consortium led by the University of Bristol, working on a UV-based device to enable secure data transfer between satellites, enhancing orbital cybersecurity.

Scotland Office Minister Kirsty McNeill, delivering a keynote at the expo, emphasized the sector's growing significance. She noted Scotlands expertise in satellite and rocket design, research centres, sustainability initiatives, and unique geographic launch advantages, positioning the country at the forefront of the expanding space industry.

Scottish Business Minister Richard Lochhead highlighted the impact of the funding. "Scotland's space sector and its supply chain are already demonstrating strong economic potential while addressing global challenges from climate change to telecommunications. This investment will accelerate these efforts and ensure our universities and industry remain leaders in space technology," he said.

Additional funding allocations include:

• 350,000 for Space Scotland to enhance capabilities in Earth Observation and In-Orbit Servicing and Manufacturing (ISAM), fostering collaborations between academia, industry, and government.
• 410,000 for the OXYGEN project, aimed at promoting sustainable lunar exploration, with partners including the University of Glasgow.

The two-day Space-Comm Expo features talks and panels on spaceports, rocket launches, satellite production, computing, AI, and robotics. Speakers include NASA Chief Health Officer James 'JD' Polk, astronaut and pilot David Mackay, and Dr. Sian Proctor, the first woman commercial spacecraft pilot.

According to UK Space Agency statistics, Scotland represents 13% of UK space sector employment, with around 7,120 people working in the industry, making it the third-largest regional employer after London (33%) and the South East (17%).

Author: Sophia Brooks