The Space Partnership Board, which is equally representative of industry, academia and government, met on 22 September to discuss the recently published UK Space Strategy. Industry and academic Board members summarised some initial reactions from the sector to the Strategy, including the appreciation of the ‘One Government’ approach presented in the strategy and the greater clarity of the UK government’s priorities: National Security and Defence, alongside growth. The increased level of funding detail in the Technical Delivery Annex was welcomed as it will help the sector with near-term planning.
After recognising that the publication of the Strategy was an important moment for the sector, the Board was keen to move on to discussing how the sector can work together to deliver the Strategy in practice. All Board members explained that their stakeholders are ready and willing to contribute to this delivery, with industry members noting work underway on a formal response to frame their future discussions with government.
During the discussion, Board members focussed in on the “selective, interventionist approach that supports the commercialisation and growth of the highest-potential businesses and those critical to our national capabilities”. Specifically, members raised a number of concerns, for example that niche technology, data analysis companies and university spinouts may be overlooked when evaluating organisations, yet they could be critical to a specific national security or defence requirement.
Academic Board members welcomed the confirmation of UK Research & Innovation (UKRI) space funding and explained that it will take time to digest the implications of the strategy due to the broad and diverse academic community, as detailed in the recent Space Partnership report, ‘The Role & Impact of Academia on the UK Space Sector’.
The Space Partnership Board meets six times a year providing a regular forum for Board members to discuss topical issues, draw attention to opportunities and raise challenges on behalf of their stakeholder groups. In addition, industry and academic Board members provide advice directly to the Minister responsible for space through the Space Industry Advisory Group, which has already met twice this year.
