UK Space Agency leads mission to Japan
The British Embassy (jointly between UKTI and the UK Science and Innovation Network) hosted an open event for nearly 100 members of the Japanese government, industry and academia to highlight UK expertise in space.
Chris Lee, UKSA’s Head of International Space Policy, opened with a keynote on the UK Space as a place of partnership. The UK delegation (including UCL, SSTL, Satellite Applications Catapult, Clyde Space and Oxford Space Systems) delivered presentations on Space Science, Satellite Applications, Smallsats and Deployable Structures. Delegates also had the opportunity to network with potential partners and customers.
Japan is currently revising its long-term strategies for space development, and there is strong interest in the UK model. The Satellite Application Catapult Centre and the UK’s needs-based approach to application development gathered significant interest – a viable model to develop satellite applications is perceived to be something lacking in Japan.
Space will feature in UKTI Tokyo’s ‘Innovation is GREAT’ Year, starting in April 2015.