Good morning. I would like to take the opportunity of being here at Farnborough Airshow to announce the launch of the consultation on the new UK Space Strategy. However, I would like to start by saying a few words about the space sector in the UK and the new innovation agenda, of the Department of Trade and Industry, which acts as host to the British National Space Centre.
Over the last few months, the DTI has undergone a major internal reorganisation, which has seen BNSC move from the Business Group to the newly created Innovation Group. This is a logical move for BNSC, since the UK space sector is at the forefront of scientific research and technology development, and one of the very key objectives of BNSC's current Space Strategy is to foster the development of innovative technology, its commercial exploitation and its application to research.
In the global knowledge economy, the UK cannot compete on the basis of low labour costs and cheap materials. We can only compete on the basis of our knowledge, skills and creativity. In particular we have to compete on the basis of innovation, so that we are always a moving target to the newly industrialising countries.
Innovation is also central to the success of the space sector. Only a month ago I had the pleasure of inaugurating a European Space Agency research facility based in the UK at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory. This facility, Star Tiger, demonstrates a unique and innovative approach to the solving of complex technical problems. The idea behind it is to create a contained environment, in which young scientists and researchers can concentrate on a particular problem, without external distractions, to allow for rapid advances in technology development.
Star Tiger is a way of working as much as it is a facility, and this four month pilot study brings together the expertise of eleven young scientists and specialists from seven different countries. The project facing the team is to develop the world's first prototype compact Terahertz Imaging camera by using state of the art equipment and innovative micro-electro mechanical technology.
This international approach to reducing the long development time of critical space technology programmes could prove very influential for many other industries beyond the space sector, and it is an important step towards bringing our young scientists to the forefront of leading edge technology development. It is this kind of innovative and groundbreaking activity that will push forward capability in the space sector and open up opportunities both in space and the downstream sectors, for the benefit of all parts of society.
In parallel to the reorganisation of DTI as a whole, BNSC itself has also been subjected to a scrutiny process, reviewing its internal structure and organisation in order to more effectively deliver its objectives. The outcome of this review will be published soon, and the recommendations will be implemented over the coming months.
In addition to its reorganisation I believe that now is the right moment to produce a new space strategy. At regular intervals BNSC reviews its space activities and priorities, and produces a set of objectives within which UK space policy can be coordinated. This is produced as a public document known as the UK Space Strategy, detailing our policy though key objectives and specific actions. This year, some of the actions outlined in our current Space Strategy will come to an end, and we are now looking to produce a new Strategy to take us forward over the coming years.
Therefore, I am announcing today that I am asking BNSC and its advisory bodies to start the process of developing a new Strategy to deliver on key objectives. What should our vision be? What should our key objectives be? How can we achieve these objectives? I suggest that our vision can be summarised as 'the UK will be the most developed user of space-based systems in Europe. UK citizens, scientists and enterprises will have access to advanced space-based systems and services, and will use these to advance the frontiers of science and drive innovation in our economy and society.
Today BNSC has three core objectives, and I want to explore in the development of the new UK Space Strategy how we can better deliver them. The three objectives are to do world class space science, to develop a strong commercial space industry including applications, and to use space to collect environmental information to underpin our environmental policies.
I would like to emphasise that members of the public and the space community are invited to submit their views on this proposed Strategy to BNSC. They will have some time in which to do this, since BNSC will be producing a draft Strategy in the coming months, and this will be published on the BNSC website. Once the draft is widely available, there will be a three month public consultation period, during which we hope all interested parties will submit detailed written comments. We will also be holding a public seminar to discuss the draft and changes proposed. We intend to publish the final Strategy early next year.
We have delayed the consultation on this new Strategy so that we are able to take account of the DTI review and the emerging priorities. This is vital to producing an ambitious and challenging final Strategy, that is a true reflection of our capabilities and the resources available to us.
Perhaps I can give some idea of why it is so important to get this Strategy right. A recent study into the size and health of the UK's Space Industry revealed that telecommunications and broadcasting are the most important application sector within the UK, representing almost 80 percent of total industry turnover. Other space based services such as cheaper and more versatile global communications, new navigation systems and improved weather forecasting are also helping to improve the quality of life for citizens.
As the continuing growth of commercial space applications is changing the face of the Space sector, we need to focus our objectives even more keenly on the uses of space systems throughout the economy, and to work closely with value-adding downstream companies to ensure we are able to exploit the commercial opportunities.
The consultation is a proactive process, and we will not only be looking at the space community for input, but also those organisations representative of the end users in the downstream sectors, many of whom may not identify themselves as part of the UK space community. BNSC will be working alongside their DTI partners to ensure that innovation remains a key theme, and that economic advisors are also able to contribute.
I firmly believe that a clear process for consultation, and an opportunity for participation, will provide us with many new ideas and a broad consensus on how we should move ahead. Our new Space Strategy must focus on delivering real benefits to our citizens, both in terms of wealth creation and improvements in the quality of our lives.
There are major changes taking place in the space sector, and we need to adjust our ideas to the advances taking place. I would like to urge wide participation in the consultation process, and look forward to endorsing a new Strategy that plots a new course for us over the years ahead, and puts us in a strong position to take advantage of the many opportunities opening up to us.
|
