The SNP Government is to showcase Scotland’s space breakthroughs at the three-day European space tech expo in Bremen, Germany from today.
Innovation Minister Richard Lochhead MSP will boost the country’s position as a world leader in the sustainable space sector as well as strengthen international trade links within the industry – which, to date, has created more than 8,000 jobs in Scotland.
The Minister will be joined by a cohort of 23 Scottish businesses in attending the event. Glasgow is already the biggest manufacturer of small satellites outside the US and by publishing the first-ever Space Sustainability Roadmap, the SNP Government has recently set out how the sector can help achieve climate change targets.
Mr Lochhead said:
“Scotland’s innovative scientists and engineers lead the way across the space industry; from designing, manufacturing, fand launching satellites to finding novel uses for the data generated which benefit our people and economy.
“The knowledge produced has never been more important – from tackling deforestation to predicting farms at risk of losing productivity – and we want to collaborate with international partners in this shared and urgent task of addressing climate change."
Kenneth Gibson MSP added:
"I am very encouraged by the potential of Scotland's space sector, supported by the SNP Government’s space strategy which aims to make the country the leading space nation in Europe by 2030,
"Prestwick Spaceport in Ayrshire has already secured an £80 million funding boost through the Ayrshire Growth Deal to enable it to undergo a highly ambitious Aerospace and Space Programme and become the leading horizontal launch spaceport in Europe."
