Scotland is to see a space funding boost from the UK Government’s levelling up plans.

Several hubs, known as space clusters, will be supported by funding from the UK Space Agency, which will help new and growing companies, building on local expertise, and boost investment.

More than £600,000 will go towards growth and the creation of jobs, as well as recruiting space cluster managers, and strengthening local space sector leadership groups whilst developing new business opportunities.

The funding comes as the Government is set to unveil its flagship Levelling Up White Paper, setting out a plan to transform the UK.

Funding has gone to organisations across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Highlands and Islands Enterprise has secured £38,000 from the funding pot, with Space Hub Sutherland using the money to continue development activity around the proposed site of a spaceport and launch facilities in the region.

Scottish Space Group (Space Scotland) will also see a £64,500 financial boost and said it would use grant funds to appoint a cluster development manager to build and deliver on recommendations from the Scottish Space Strategy.

The organisation also said that it would identify opportunities in the downstream sectors, scaling of regional STEM activities and undertake a series of stakeholder engagement activities to promote the cluster.

According to the UK Government, the chosen organisations will use the funding to “support locally led space sector activities in their region,” including business case development and evidence gathering for local authorities and economic development bodies.

The UK Space Agency will work alongside local partners, Devolved Administrations, universities and industry to encourage more space businesses to start, grow and connect with the UK’s wider space ecosystem.

Britain’s space sector is a vital part of the country’s economy, providing more than £16 billion per year. However, the balance of investment and jobs is skewed towards certain regions.

The government recently launched its National Space Strategy which outlines its long-term plans to grow and level up the space sector across the UK.

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Commenting on the funding news, Dr Paul Bate, Chief Executive of the UK Space Agency, said: “The National Space Strategy sets out a vision for ensuring we have a thriving, resilient and well-connected space ecosystem across the whole of the UK.

“We are building on our strengths in space such as satellite manufacturing, while supporting emerging markets like in-orbit servicing, to unlock the growth in the UK space sector and help level up the economy.”

Further investment from the UK Space Agency will allow Scotland to continue expanding its strong space sector after a series of wins over the last few years.

Scottish rocket firm Orbex announced construction of a new launch platform in December last year which will replicate operations carried out at the new Sutherland Space Hub.

Additionally, Edinburgh-headquartered space tech firm Skyrora signed a multi-launch deal with the SaxaVord spaceport on the Shetland Islands in October in a step closer to its planned rocket launch in 2022.

Not only could the rocket be the first to go to space from the UK if successful, but the multi-launch agreement will run for the next decade, giving Skyrora the ability to build towards its target of 16 launches a year by 2030.

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