A VISION has been launched setting out how the region can contribute to the national space strategy.
South of Scotland Enterprise (SOSE) believes the area can use its natural resources for its own benefit and to support the Scottish Government’s national Space Strategy.
It aims to awaken entrepreneurial opportunities, inspire new thinking, and create space jobs in the region, which is now Scotland’s Natural Capital Innovation Zone.
The strategy – which was produced by AstroAgency and commissioned by SOSE – proposes a pragmatic approach whereby SOSE and partners can help the region to:
Become a significant link in the UK Space Cluster Chain
Set up series of innovation hubs in the South of Scotland
Incubate and attract space businesses, workforce, and investors
Cement strategic partnerships to unlock the value of space
The enterprise organisation say they have already been engaging with local businesses who are interested in filling supply chain opportunities in the space sector, such as geospatial analytics, precision agriculture or space data.
Chief executive Jane Morrison-Ross said: “As Scotland’s Natural Capital Innovation Zone, the South of Scotland has a key role to play in supporting the national Space Strategy.
“Space tech can give us tools to use in precision agriculture, biodiversity, and help us to innovate in engineering, food, drink and textiles. The South of Scotland has rich collateral to draw on here.
“The region’s DNA is intertwined with innovation, with our natural capital and with innovation led by traditional industries.
“Now that the strategy has been published, we will focus on delivering the benefits and opportunities, and our work with local partners, and international partners in the space sector, who see the huge potential in the South of Scotland.”
Welcoming the work done so far, Business Minister Richard Lochhead said: “South of Scotland Enterprise’s Space Strategy brings a focus to how the sector’s vast potential can work for the region – not just in terms of growing its share of the space market, but utilising the technology as a force for good across right across the economy.”
Richard Osborne, from AstroAgency, added: “With this strategy, their passionate team is now equipped to leverage space technology to drive the wellbeing economy forward and supercharge the drive to net zero.”
