UK Space Agency Saleh Ahmed Assistant Director, UK Space Agency Today, our everyday lives depend on space technology: it is woven into the economy in a way unimaginable at the dawn of the space age. But the global space scene is rapidly changing. In response, UK civil space policy must anticipate and react to developments being driven both by the emergence of ground-breaking technologies and by the needs of society. 1

UK Space Agency The UK Space Agency is an executive agency of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) and is at the heart of UK efforts to explore and benefit from space. The UK Space Agency was launched officially on 23 March 2010 and became an executive agency of BIS on 1 April 2011. The Agency is responsible for all strategic decisions on the UK civil space programme and provides a clear, single voice for UK space ambitions. The UK Space Agency: co-ordinates UK civil space activity; supports academic research; nurtures the UK space industry; raises the profile of UK space activities at home and abroad; works to increase understanding of space and its practical benefits; and inspires our next generation of UK scientists and engineers.

An evolving UK space sector Framework for strategic engagement with Space for Growth Industry-led strategy to grow the sector over 20 years (‘Space IGS’) – The Space Agency Goal to win 10% of £400B global market by 2030 Technology Strategy Board Establishment of an ESA presence in the UK Creation of the International Space Innovation Centre at Harwell ISIC Satellite Applications Catapult Centre National Centre for Earth Observation NCEO Change is happening, and recent developments are dramatic. The publication of the Space Innovation and Growth Strategy, the establishment of the International Space Innovation Centre and the presence of a European Space Agency facility at the Harwell Space Cluster are all part of the dynamic, new environment in which the UK space sector can flourish. The creation of the UK Space Agency allows the UK to embrace these changes and take full advantage of the opportunities that lie ahead. The UK Space Agency provides the right government structure to respond to this new environment I’ve been talking about . The key point is the integration of UK civil space activities from basic science, through technology development and on to applications. If size of budget is a sign of strength, then the Agency is about one hundred times more powerful than BNSC was in its last incarnation. (Agency budget ~ £240M) 3

Growth: the key to the UK Space sector 9% growth per annum for a decade Source: The Size and Health of the UK Space Industry’ (November 2010), Oxford Economics

Global space economy forecast to be $375 billion per annum by 2019 Source: Andrew Davies, Sunwynd Ltd, for IGS Mid Life Update Summer 2011

Purpose of UK Space Agency Ensures that the UK retains and grows a strategic space capability in: manufacturing & systems services technologies applications science Acts to sustain the: economic growth scientific excellence societal benefits of the UK civil space sector. The creation of the Agency reflects a strategic decision by government to facilitate the growth of the UK space sector. The new Agency is placing economic growth at the centre of its strategy and this goal permeates all aspects of its programmes. Consequently, we hope that the impact of the Agency’s work will not be limited to the space sector: for example - knowledge and applications can spill-out from our work into other sectors, so acting as an engine of innovation for the wider economy. An example is provided by the Aurora knowledge exchange projects announced at the UK Space Conference in July to stimulate the take-up of exploration technologies in novel terrestrial applications. 6

Policy and Programme Priorities Telecoms and navigation New applications for Government and business Exploit investment in Galileo National space policy European space policy Global partnerships Technology Education, Skills & Outreach This chart just attempts to sum the Agency’s space policy and programme investments. In each of these areas the Agency is investing time or money to deliver concrete outcomes - often alongside industry and with international partners. In almost every case, you will find a defined national and/or international strategy. Whether that is for space education and skills or broadband from space; for national space technology priorities or the global use of Earth observation for disaster mitigation and relief. ESA exploration & science missions robotic exploration for science , technology and inspiration UK in a global framework Commercial exploitation and deliver policy from EO data & analysis Exploit Global Monitoring for Environment and Security (GMES) 7

The UK space scene has changed rapidly over the last three years. [Summary] 8

FP 7 - 6th Call Announced in July, deadline 21 November Linking research and innovation, bridging to Horizon 2020 €126m budget

6th Call content GMES – (€59m) Climate change Downstream service stimulation Remote sensing methods  Integration of satcomms and satnav with space-based observing systems  

6th Call Content (2) Space Foundations (€51m) space science and exploration data exploitation Earth-analogue research Critical technologies for non-dependence reducing the vulnerability of assets Space-weather in-orbit collisions avoidance (3) Cross-cutting (€16m)   “Spin-out” of space technologies Cooperation with third countries (China, Ukraine)

UK Space Agency saleh.ahmed@ukspaceagency.bis.gsi.gov.uk http://www.bis.gov.uk/ukspaceagency 12