Access to Expertise

Achievements so far

Edinburgh: A Space University

The Space and Satellites sector is huge. Globally, the sector is expected to be worth £400bn by 2030 and has been growing at 8% per year over the last five years.

Edinburgh is recognised as the Space Data Capital of Europe, as a vibrant centre for world-class talent, data science, and space and satellite entrepreneurship. We will be known for our role driving the Scottish Space Sector through generating growth in Edinburgh as well as connecting the wider Scottish space community to propel the Scottish space sector ahead.

Our big picture goal is to ensure a sustainable planet Earth.

 

Since the Space and Satellites Innovation Team truly came together in August 2018, we have:
Secured over £11 million of project funding, including from UK Space Agency's NSIP Programme 
£34 million secured by the College of Science and Engineering in space based projects since August 2017
Executed the Sustainable Space Summit - opened by the First Minister Nicola Sturgeon 
Engaged with 100+ businesses in the space ecosystem globally
Hosted 300+ visitors from public and private sector via Space and Satellites Innovation Programme (SSIP) hosted events
Achieved national and international news coverage and reached 1000+  listeners with the Edinburgh: Space Data Capital Podcast
Played a pivotal role in creating the Scottish Space Academics Forum, across Scotland 
Started the Space Research Theme with the planned delivery span of 25 years 
Welcomed Ivan McKee who is the MSP for Trade, Investment and Innovation
Supported organisations of a major international conferences - Space, Satellites, Sustainability with SPIE  and Data.Space
Presented at key space events such as the UKSA Conference and UKSEDS conference
Established a solid international presence by engaging businesses, universities and governments of Holland, Canada, Japan, United States, Norway and more
Secured a spot on the Scottish Space Leadership Council and Scottish Centre of Excellence in Satellite Applications boards
Ran an event on Space and Sustainable Development Goals, with around a 100 guests from industry, government, academia
Supported a student-led initiative to launch space technologies (Asteria)
Visited Planet Labs and Capella Space in California
Secured >224 TB data from the Dundee Satellite Station
Secured a Centre for Doctoral Training in Earth Observation worth £5 million which will deliver 50 PhD students uniquely qualified to address emerging climate change problems using AI/ML
Supported Orbital Micro Systems to become established in the UK from Colorado, USA
Hosted terra_Nova Hackathon (InSpace, 26th January 2020) which saw 50 students from as far away as the US take part
Reached around 185 adults, 254 (primary) 458 (secondary) pupils, 30 teachers as part of space-based outreach activities
Supported several science festivals (Orkney, Midlothian) and appeared in a podcast (about films related to Moon exploration, space and satellite activities in Edinburgh, etc)
Ran a Town Hall meeting to engage our colleagues in developing these incredible space activities
Hosted Principal Officer US Consulate & US Naval Attaché to the UK at the Bayes Centre
Presented at the Scottish Parliament Cross-Party Group, speaking about space capabilities of Edinburgh and Scotland more widely