Science Minister
Announces New Executive Agency For UK Space and Satellite Industry
Strictly embargoed until 16.50, Thursday 10 December
A new executive agency will be created to take the UK’s
recession-busting space and satellite sector into a new space age,
Science and Innovation Minister Lord Drayson said today.
This new bureaucracy busting agency will replace the British
National Space Centre, and bring together for the first time the
six Government departments, two research councils, the Technology
Strategy Board and the Met Office that currently oversee the
organisation of UK space activities to enhance efficiencies.
The Government’s ambitious plans to accelerate growth and jobs
within our world-leading space industry were set out in Lord
Drayson’s speech at the Appleton Space Conference.
Space has been one of the nation’s unsung economic success
stories in recent years – and a thriving sector will be vital in
building Britain’s future.
The UK space and satellite sector has grown in real terms by
around 9 percent a year since 1999/00 – more than three times
faster than the economy as a whole. These recession-busting trends
are testament to the type of businesses that will generate the
jobs of the future.
It currently contributes £6.5bn a year to the UK economy and
supports 68,000 jobs. The UK is also currently second in the world
only to the USA in space science.
The new agency will allow the UK to take full advantage of the
opportunities offered by a world increasingly dependent on
advances in space innovations and science. It will safeguard the
nation’s critical mass of skills and expertise and will bring
together a range of budgets into one place improving strategic
decision making.
Lord Drayson said:
“Our space sector hasn't missed a beat during this
recession.
This is the classic story of outstanding UK science and
entrepreneurship continuing to create jobs and achieve exceptional
growth.
“The new space agency is about making sure that the UK fully
exploits its competitive advantage in satellites, robotics and
related technologies.“
The announcement comes following a public consultation on how to
fund and organise the civil space sector, so that it meets the
challenges of the future and delivers the greatest benefit to the
country.
As well as maximising the role of space technologies in driving
economic growth in high tech, high skilled services, the new
agency’s responsibilities would include:
strengthening the UK’s relationship with the European Space
Agency;agreeing with UK industry how to maximise the benefits of
space technologies; working with the scientific community to
provide a clear voice on decisions that affect the sector.
Ian Pearson MP, Economic Secretary at the Treasury, said:
"Establishing a UK space agency reinforces the
Government’s commitment to be at the cutting edge of innovation
and science. Satellite telecommunications and applications affect
all our daily lives. They provide high tech R&D and job
opportunities which play an important role in the growth of the UK economy."
Lord Drayson also highlighted the publication of BNSC’s Space
Exploration Review in his speech. This examines the options for
future UK participation in the exploration of our solar system,
especially locations where humans will one day live and work such
as the Moon and Mars.
It identifies several technological opportunities including
developing advanced robotics to work in partnership with
astronauts, a lunar communications and navigation service to
support robotic and human exploration of the Moon and advanced
launch vehicles such as Skylon to reduce the cost of getting into
orbit.
The report recognises the importance of both robotic and human
space exploration and will be used to inform future decisions and
international discussions with other space agencies.
Notes to Editors
Notes to Editor
1. For more information,
contact:
Rachel Clarke
BIS press office
18002 020 7215 5945
Rachel.clarke@bis.gsi.gov.uk
2. Interview opportunities
with the Minister:
There will be opportunities to interview the Minister at the
Appleton Space Conference. To bid for an interview, please contact
Adrian Bradley on 020 7215 5080.
3. Lord Drayson’s Speech
The Minister will give a speech today at 16.50 at the Appleton
Space Conference which is happening at STFC’s Rutherford Appleton
Lab where he announced the creation of the new executive agency
for space activities and the publication of the Space Exploration
Review. A full copy of the speech is available on request.
4. British National Space
Centre (BNSC)
BNSC is a cross-Government organisation that co-ordinates UK
civil space activities and brings together representatives from
Government, science, industry and education to promote advances in
space technology and science. BNSC also supports efforts to use
space within the teaching of maths, engineering and science to
inspire young people.
BNSC is a partnership of six Government Departments, 2 Research
Councils, the Technology Strategy Board and the Met Office. The
partner organisations are; BIS, STFC, NERC, TSB, MoD, Met Office,
Defra, DfT, DCSF and FCO. www.bnsc.gov.uk
Department for Business, Innovation & Skills
The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) is
building a dynamic and competitive UK economy by: creating the
conditions for business success; promoting innovation, enterprise
and science; and giving everyone the skills and opportunities to
succeed. To achieve this it will foster world-class universities
and promote an open global economy. BIS - Investing in our future.
Contacts:
BIS Press Office
NDS.BIS@coi.gsi.gov.uk
Rachel Clarke
Phone: 18220 020 7215 5945 - text direct
phone
Mobile: This is a text direct phone- please dial in fill
Rachel.Clarke@bis.gsi.gov.uk