The Space
Leadership Council has today set out actions to boost the UK space
industry and achieve outcomes of the Government’s Plan for Growth.
The ‘National Space Technology Strategy for the UK’ details
priority research and technology areas to help the UK space sector
grow including telecommunications and access to space. This will
support the National Space Technology Programme announced in the
Growth Review and help UK businesses make the most of foreign markets.
David Willetts, Minister for Universities and Science and Space
Leadership Council co-chair, said:
“The UK’s space sector is a key driver of economic growth and is
increasing rapidly each year. In the Government’s Plan for Growth
we committed to removing the regulatory barriers to further growth
and announced a £10 million investment to start a national
technology programme with industry.
“Today’s strategy is an excellent example of the value of working
closely with industry, and I am confident it will provide our
space sector with the advice and guidance it needs to truly flourish.”
Sir Keith O’Nions, Chairman of the National Space Technology
Strategy Group who produced the strategy, said:
“The sector has committed an enormous amount of time and effort
into delivering this Strategy and I thank the 200 or so people and
organisations that have come together in the UK to make this
publication today a reality. We have always said that this is a
‘living’ strategy and we will update this on a regular basis.
“In the meantime, I look forward to this strategy being
nationally owned and implemented because doing so is going to be
critical to achieving the growth in the sector to which we all aspire.”
Andy Green, Chief Executive of Logica and Council co-chair, said:
“This technology strategy delivers one of the most important
recommendations in the UK’s Space Innovation and Growth Strategy.
Sir Keith has produced an excellent report that sets out the
technologies we need to develop to grow our share of high growth
markets and make the most of our involvement in European
programmes and beyond.
“I commend the Chancellor’s decision to fund the National
Technology Programme, which I see as industry and Government
working together to deliver a growth strategy. Industry will play
a full part in this programme: this strategy helps set the
direction of travel for the national technology programme and we
will continue to contribute fully to national technology
discussions, as well as match the Government’s funding.”
The National Space Technology Strategy is the result of a
six-month process, working with all areas of the space sector and
taking a range of views and expertise onboard. A series of
‘roadmaps’ were then produced, giving industry the clear,
actionable guidance needed to drive innovation and increase market
share in areas such as telecommunications, sensing, exploration
and access to space.
The Strategy was presented to the Space Leadership Council today
and takes forward one of the recommendations of the Space
Innovation and Growth Strategy published in February 2010. It is
market-led and governed by a set of underlying principles, such as
creating wealth, bringing benefits for society and promoting the
growth of a balanced space sector throughout the supply chain from
businesses of all sizes and academia.
Notes to editors
1. The Space Leadership Council is a made up of industry,
academia and Government, and provides strategic advice to the UK
Space Agency.
2. The duties of the Space Leadership Council include:
- Providing advice to the UK Space Agency on its work plan and
future opportunities
- Offering advice on the areas of space activity in which the UK
should seek to develop and maintain global leadership
- Promoting the UK’s space industry and scientific excellence in
space research, technology and applications and overseeing the
implementation of agreed recommendations of the Innovation and
Growth Strategy.
3. The National Space Technology Strategy and the roadmaps are
available via the Technology Strategy Board’s _connect website
(registration required but free) at https://ktn.innovateuk.org/web/national-space-technology-strategy.
4. The Strategy follows a £10 million Government investment
announced in the Budget to start a national space technology
programme, which will be matched by industry and channelled
through the UK Space Agency.
5. The Government’s Plan for Growth can be found at http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/ukecon_growth_index.htm.
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