Can Scotland’s space sector compete globally? MPs ask experts
The Scottish Affairs Committee hears evidence on Scotland’s space sector from academics and industry specialists.
Scotland’s space sector has grown rapidly in recent years. Scotland accounts for nearly a fifth of all space jobs in the UK and, according to the UK Space Agency, the industry grew by 30 per cent between 2018 and 2021.
Meeting details
The Committee launched an inquiry in June to examine how the UK and Scottish Governments can help the Scottish space sector seize the exciting opportunities available in this rapidly growing global market. The session comes after comments by Scotland’s Innovation Minister Richard Lochhead MSP, at Wednesday’s international Space Economy Summit, that Scotland aspires to become “Europe’s leading space nation.”
MPs will hear from UK-wide space trade associations first before turning to a second panel of specialists with insight into Scotland’s space industry. The Executive Director of Space Scotland and the Chair of the Scottish Space Academic Forum, two of the organisations which helped to author Scotland’s space strategy, will face questions on how Scotland’s space sector compares with global competitors and the opportunities available for international cooperation.