UK priorities for Space 19+

It takes place as the UK government prepares for Space19+, the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Ministerial level Council meeting, which will set out the ESA’s priorities and funding for its future work.

The conference will be an opportunity to discuss the sector’s priorities, particularly in the area of how the ESA’s funding should be set to best support the UK sector.

Included in the agenda are keynote addresses from: Chris Skidmore MP, Minister of State for Universities, Science, Research and Innovation, and Magali Vaissiere, Director, Telecommunications and Integrated Applications and Head, ECSAT, Harwell UK, European Space Agency.

The National Space Programme and a Sector Deal for space

The seminar also comes as industry and Government work towards a National Space Programme, with ambitions for launch in April 2020, as part of a Sector Deal.

It also follows the Prosperity from Space strategy which sets out the sector and government priorities for earth observation, global connectivity, in-space robotics and access to space.

Sessions will consider how best the Programme and a Sector Deal can support the continued growth of the sector and what more needs to be done to reduce the skills gap, support access to finance and utilise the regulatory framework to enable the sector to grow.

Sector developments and the future of international collaboration

The discussion takes place as work continues on the development of spaceports within the UK and the Government announces new funding to support the development of horizontal spaceflight in the UK and delegates will discuss what more the Government should do to support the funding, customer base and the delivery of infrastructure needed to enable the UK’s own launch capabilities.

The agenda also discusses the UK’s future relationship with Europe and other key international clusters and options for both ensuring UK companies can expand into other markets and are able to attract international investment and talent post-Brexit – and with the development of the UK’s own Global Satellite System following its withdrawal from Galileo still on the table.

The Defence Space Strategy

We also expect discussion on the Defence Space Strategy which is expected before the seminar, and is due to set out the Government plans to tackle emerging space-based threats to commercial and military satellites.

Delegates will discuss the feasibility of the plans set out in the strategy and the role that the MoD and other government and public bodies can play as an anchor customer to the industry to utilise government procurement as a leaver to support industry growth.

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