Global Insights: Space Technology in Japan

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About the event

The webinar will reflect on insights gathered during a Space Technology in Japan Innovate UK Global Expert Mission (GEM), highlighting Japan’s new generation of space companies and how these companies are being nurtured by the Japanese Government and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).

Why attend?

In July 2024, a group of space sector experts from the UK visited Japan to explore the developing new space economy and the cluster of companies that have setup in Tokyo. These companies cover all segments of the space sector from instrumentation to communications, satellites, in-space services and lunar exploration.

The GEM brought together industry experts from the UK and Japan to examine mutual challenges and opportunities for collaboration in this rapidly developing sector and how the need for sustainability is driving sectors such as debris removal.

This dissemination webinar will present the findings of the GEM and will be delivered by the mission delegates.

Why the focus on space technology?

Japan’s space sector is expanding at an unprecedented pace, driven by a new generation of commercially focused companies and pioneering start-ups. These innovative firms are reshaping Japan’s space capabilities and pushing boundaries in emerging areas such as sustainable space operations and lunar exploration. The sector is attracting significant private, as well as public, investment as the sector shifts from the domain of governments to a key sector of the economy driven by commercial interests.

The UK space industry is one of the fastest-growing sectors of the economy and generates an estimated income of £17.5 billion annually. The UK has expertise in several areas, including the manufacture of space systems such as satellites and spacecraft, end-to-end satellite service delivery, satellite communications, and high-end navigation.

The UK and Japan have a strong track record of collaboration in the space sector and ambitious plans to grow their respective space sectors. These foundations pave the way for exciting new partnerships, bringing together next-generation space start-ups and emerging SMEs from both nations.

Who should attend?

Those working in the space sector or supply-chain including those in complementary industries such as robotics, materials science, sensor and communication technologies and artificial intelligence. This includes technology developers, academics, policymakers and regulatory authorities.