Boosting public services with satellites
UK Space Agency brings satellite tools to Government departments.
Satellite data could soon be playing a bigger role in vital Government services with the start of the first 14 projects funded under the UK Space Agency’s Space for Smarter Government programme (SSGP).
From flood management to air quality monitoring, and breast cancer screening to shale gas impact monitoring, the projects will explore new ways for central and local Government to embed space services such as Earth observation (EO) and satellite navigation in everyday operational activities, enabling them to save money, increase innovation and deliver more efficient public services.
The UK is a world leader in space services and technologies with the Government and the space industry aiming to grow the sector to a £40 billion turnover per year by 2030. The use of space by the Government is a vital part of this growth strategy and will enable SMEs and other space sector organisations to further develop viable satellite enabled services for export or commercial use.
Minister for Universities, Science and Cities, Greg Clark, said: "The UK space sector is an engine of growth for the UK, growing at over 7% per year with over 5,000 jobs created in the last two years. Space is increasingly playing a vital role in our everyday lives and through this new programme the Government will harness the potential of space and integrate it into its day to day business to help save money, innovate and make more effective decisions."
The uniqueness of this programme is that all of its projects have the public sector customer fully engaged. For example, the Department of Environment has formed an oversight group to rapidly assess the outcomes of the SSGP projects that could assist in its goal to increase its use of EO in accessing impactful evidence to develop and implement policies in more cost-effective ways.
