The new interactive tool is set to become a main point
of reference for the UK space sector, mapping the capabilities of
over 900 organisations in the industry.
Developed in collaboration with the UK Space Agency and with
support from key stakeholders, the Knowledge Transfer Network
(KTN) has outlined the universities, companies, funding bodies
and networks that form the UK space sector.
The map is now available publicly
through a free, interactive, web-based tool, allowing users
to search and visualise the sector as never before. It will
deliver high-quality insights and showcase our excellent space
sector across the world.
Iain Hughes, Market Intelligence Manager, UK Space Agency said:
This tool will bring genuine value to stakeholders across the
space sector and beyond. By providing access to new data,
visualisations and search functions, it will generate insights
that will help companies identify opportunities, improve their
strategies for growth, and increase collaboration.
Andy Bennett, Knowledge Transfer Manager for Space at KTN said:
KTN supports innovative organisations by creating diverse
connections to drive positive change. We have built landscape
maps in many sectors in order to give a representation of
current UK capabilities and activities which help identify and
drive opportunities in innovation. This UK Space Sector
Landscape Map showcases our knowledge and aims to support those
both inside and outside the sector to build new collaborations.
We hope that it supports our ambitious UK space sector to
continue to grow and succeed.
The UK space sector is a huge economic success story, growing by
over 60% since 2010. In addition, the sector supports wider UK
economic activities worth an estimated £300 billion through the
use of satellite services. This market is expected to grow
further as government support unlocks commercial opportunities.
What does the map include?
The map includes:
- over 340 space manufacturing businesses, from launch vehicle
providers and satellite manufactures to component and materials
suppliers
- over 300 satellite applications companies who deliver
satellite communications services, process satellite data or
develop applications dependent on GNSS or Earth observation data
- 44 space operation companies including launch services,
launch brokerage services, proprietary satellite operation and
ground segment operators
- 170 organisations offering ancillary services including
consultants, IT and software services providers, insurers and
legal services
- 67 research groups and universities across the UK with their
research interests
- incubation centres, networks, funding opportunities, key
sector organisations and developing spaceports
This tool will continue to improve and evolve over time,
capturing the UK space sector as it grows. Companies and
organisations belonging to the space sector not currently listed
are invited to notify KTN for inclusion.
The interactive map allows users to search and filter by a range
of data points including market segment, company details,
technologies, expertise and capabilities. The satellite
applications companies can be searched by the key markets they
serve.
All featured organisations are also geographically tagged,
allowing users to pan around the UK virtually, explore regions of
interest, and to visualise the relationships between local space
networks.
How can the UK Space Sector Landscape Map help?
The tool will offer value to all stakeholders interacting with
the UK space sector by:
- identifying regional clusters of expertise to support local
growth ambitions, signposting space support networks, and
informing users’ strategies for investing around the UK
- supporting collaboration and innovation by providing a
comprehensive and searchable directory of companies and
organisations
- identifying UK capabilities, gaps, strengths, and
opportunities to inform the development of the National Space
Strategy and national space programmes
- informing market intelligence strategies, including the
identification of potential collaborators or competitors within
market segments, or new supply chains and customers
- signposting of public and private space-focused funding
bodies
- provision of a knowledge base to inform analysis among the UK
space community and sector researchers
- raising profiles of UK space organisations of all types and
sizes, providing a free platform to promote expertise and
capabilities and inform a range of stakeholders
