Photonics for Space: Special Interest Group – Meeting 9

About meeting 9:
In this meeting of the Photonics for Space Special Interest Group (SIG), we shall be concentrating on engagement with the European Space Agency and hear updates from a recent visit by some of the SIG members to ESA. An engagement roadmap will be discussed along with planned future workshops and the areas of focus for the SIG.

We shall also discuss the proposed Photonics for Space SIG database before round-table discussions.

Background: Photonics in the space sector
For over a century, Scotland has been at the cutting edge of photonics innovation. With over 60 companies at the heart of the Scottish photonics cluster, this ‘invisible technology’ underpins a vast range of vertical markets. One of these markets, and a currently growing sector for Scotland, is space.

Almost one fifth of all UK jobs in the space sector are based in Scotland. Scotland produces more small satellites than any other country in Europe, and aims to be the first country in Europe to provide a complete solution for the manufacture and launch of small satellites, supporting satellite and environmental data analysis and critical earth observation.

Technology Scotland in partnership with the Higgs Centre for Innovation, is currently exploring ways to further highlight the role of photonics in the space sector, with particular emphasis on supporting members to realise potential opportunities, removing some of the stigmas surrounding barriers to the space sector, signposting towards relevant funding and nurturing a community to help build an ecosystem for the space sector within Scotland.