The United Kingdom aims to be at the forefront of space capable nations. For U.K. Minister for Universities and Science David Willetts, this presents quite a challenge as he looks to develop the infrastructure to allow the space industry in the United Kingdom to flourish.

VIA SATELLITE: How important does the government perceive the U.K. space industry? How significant has this industry become?

Willetts: The space industry is very important to the growth of the U.K. economy. It has long been one of its unsung success stories and is more important than ever. The total contribution of the space sector to the U.K. economy was more than 9 billion pounds ($13.65 billion) in 2010/2011 and it is growing at a rate of around 7.5 per cent a year, despite the tough economic climate.

VIA SATELLITE: With the government widely making cuts across the board, why has it decided to increase its funding in this industry?

Willetts: The sector has been consistently on an upward trajectory over the last ten years and we need to make sure we continue this success. It makes good business sense to invest in areas that are showing demand and growth, and in which the U.K. businesses and the research base have a competitive advantage. It is also an area of excellent and significant scientific research.

VIA SATELLITE: There is a target of a 30 billion pounds ($45.51 billion) space industry in the United Kingdom by 2030. Is that realistic? Can the United Kingdom triple its space industry in this time frame?

Willetts: We are already a major player in the global space market and are well on track to increase our share of this growing sector, with expertise in markets such as telecommunications, weather forecasting, navigation and observation imagery. A 30 billion pounds space industry in the United Kingdom by 2030 is a realistic figure if we continue to foster the sector’s growth through strategic investment and close partnership with industry, academia and other agencies.

VIA SATELLITE: Do you sense a real opportunity for the United Kingdom in the global space market? Can the U.K. become more of a leader in this field?

Willetts: Our investment focuses on projects that will deliver maximum economic returns to the United Kingdom in both the short and long term. Our investment in the European Space Agency (ESA), coupled with our own National Space Technology Program, will provide many opportunities for the U.K. industry to win contracts and support for innovative projects. Satellite communications, earth observation and applications will all continue to see growth, with initiatives such as the International Space Innovation Center, the Business Incubator and the Satellite Application Catapult helping to drive new and innovative services, products and technologies.

VIA SATELLITE: How important is it for the United Kingdom to have leadership in key ESA projects? Is this possible given the sometimes difficult relationship with other European nations?

Willetts: Our strong investment at the 2012 ESA Ministerial, of an increase to 240 million pounds ($364 million) per year, will strengthen the U.K.’s role in a number of areas, including telecoms and earth observation satellites and will put the United Kingdom in a leadership role for several major projects. This will ensure that our industry continues to win lucrative space contracts over the next five to 10 years. The industry has already identified projects to the value of 1 billion pounds ($1.52 billion) that should follow in train from this additional funding.

A 30 billion pounds space industry in the United Kingdom by 2030 is a realistic figure if we continue to foster the sector’s growth through strategic investment and close partnership with industry, academia and other agencies.
– David Willetts

VIA SATELLITE: Why did the government decide to make an extra 60 million pound investment in the European space program?

Willetts: Our National Space Technology Program has attracted matched funding from institutional and industry investors. Early analysis suggests the return to the economy from this investment of 10 million pounds will be between 50 million ($75.85 million) and 75 million pounds ($113.8 million). The extra investment has also secured the future of the ESA facility in Oxfordshire, including transferring the organization’s satellite applications headquarters to the United Kingdom.

VIA SATELLITE: What does a 30 billion pounds space industry translate to in the number of people working in the space industry? How are you going to attract young talent to the space industry?

Willetts: The proposed expansion of the industry should provide an estimated 100,000 new jobs in the United Kingdom. To meet this demand our schools and universities will need industry support to raise awareness of the opportunities afforded by a career in the sector. The industry will also need to offer more training and apprenticeships to fill the jobs that will arise from the planned growth in manufacturing and services. Consequently, the U.K. Space Agency is working with other space stakeholders to publicize the opportunities of the industry and to inspire young people to choose courses based on science, technology engineering and mathematics.

The Agency supports a number of initiatives such as the ESERO-UK, a U.K. space education office providing space-focused education resources for teachers and students across the curriculum; the Space For All campaign, a scheme that invites people from across the United Kingdom to submit ideas for projects that will help increase awareness amongst the general public of the U.K.’s space program; and the National Space Academy, a network of outstanding teachers and space scientists that will use the inspirational context of space to teach STEM subjects – and geography – to our students and their teachers.