MP Richard Lochhead is travelling to a Los Angeles Summit to declare the nation’s bid, using figures of Scotland’s space success and current and future investment plans to bolster the sector and launch Scotland into a new era of space innovation.

Figures from 2019-2020 suggest that only one fifth of UK space sector jobs are in Scotland totalling to 8,400, but the Scottish government is aiming to more than double this figure, creating 20,000 jobs in the sector by 2030.

This is all in alignment with Scotland’s aspirations to become “Europe’s leading space nation,” with a focus on sustainability and increasing US investment.

The conference, the Space Economy Summit, is set to run on 11 October in LA and is sponsored by The Economist.

Lochhead is set to outline how Scotland is contributing to exploration, innovation, and economic growth of the sector to guests including international industry experts, investors, and governments.

By sharing Scotland’s current work and future goals, delegates can learn more about the latest developments in the space industry, and in turn, Scotland can maximise the economic benefits of the sector and analyse how space technology can help tackle climate change.

During his visit, Lochhead will meet with ABL Space Systems, the company developing the rocket due to power the UK’s Pathfinder space launch from SaxaVord in Shetland. He is also set to meet with Universal Hydrogen, a company developing and using innovative solutions to decarbonise air travel.

Lochhead said: “We are on the cusp of something new. Technology built in Scotland will be launched from Scottish soil and the data will be used by Scottish companies to problem solve for the benefit of humankind – this is full end-to-end space capability.”

Scotland is looking to attract more investment for its space sector as it preps for to propel the UK’s first successful commercial launch.

“Scotland has always been a leader in innovation, and we continue to excel as we lead the world in small satellite manufacturing,” Lochhead said.

Lochhead is set to highlight Scotland’s Space Sustainability Roadmap in a bid to promote Scotland as leading the way in sustainable space exploration, and highlighting how space technology and exploration can be used to study and fight climate change.

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The minister will also target more US investment, highlighting successful funding from Spire Global and Mangata Networks.

“As we advance at a rate of knots towards our aim of becoming Europe’s leading space nation by 2030, I look forward to discussing opportunities within the sector and Scotland in particular,” Lochhead said.