The inaugural Space-Comm Expo Scotland conference recently took place at the SEC in Glasgow, with more than 3,000 guests attending the first event of its kind in our country.

The event showcased Scotland’s advanced satellite manufacturing capabilities, data analysis expertise, and rapidly growing launch market, attracting considerable interest and investment from the global space community.

As one of the attendees, I’d never experienced a buzz like it at such an event, with huge excitement amongst delegates about the possibilities surrounding the ongoing growth of this sector.

And I came away from Space-Comm Expo Scotland – which featured more than 80 exhibitors and 120 speakers - with a real sense of the opportunities available to the industry.

Business minister Richard Lochhead, told delegates how Scotland had ambitions to become a hotspot for space launch activity, claiming the sector is the “fastest growing” in the country.

He said the international market is estimated to be worth $1 trillion a year by 2030, and that the Scottish Government wants to capture a £4 billion share of it for Scotland.

It’s clear that, despite the sector being in its relative infancy in this country, there are huge possibilities for it in the months and years ahead, and it is already creating high value, skilled jobs.

Johnston Carmichael is proud to have recently become a founding partner of the Scottish Space Network, with the aim of supporting a growing cluster of space firms in their growth ambitions.

And it was extremely positive to hold further discussions with relevant parties at the event about how we can bolster the sector further and that’s something we as a firm are looking to build on.

Other interesting discussion points across the two days included how to address the skills gap in the sector, and how the industry should work more closely with universities to meet its future needs.

But the key to success is collaboration across the industry, and beyond, to ensure growth and sustainability is maximised. The right level of investment will of course help realise the full growth potential. Collaboration across all of Scotland’s sectors will help shape the opportunities for such things as space data to be used effectively. And as a sector, how that current and future relationship with government develops will be key.

Currently, Scotland is home to five of the seven spaceports being developed across the UK, with Glasgow building more satellites than any other place in Europe.

In December, SaxaVord spaceport in Shetland became the UK’s first spaceport to secure a licence for vertical launches.

From television to tidal turbines, Scotland has long been at the forefront of innovation. We are well-positioned to play an important role in the burgeoning space sector and Johnston Carmichael looks forward to supporting ambitious, high growth Scottish space businesses in their journey to commercial success.