Sprexit: What Does Leaving the EU Mean for
Britain’s Place in Space?
Thomas CheneyPhD Candidate
Sunderland [email protected]
Some Background
• We used to have a space programme...
Some Background
• And we co-operated with Europe on Europa
• And were members of ELDO and ESRO (precursors to ESA)
• We cancelled our rocket programme and left the French to surge ahead (hence Ariane)
The UK Space Industry
• UK space industry worth over £10 billion
• Growth rate of 8.6% p.a. since 2010
• Employs 37,000+
• Space applications dominate (BskyB et al)
• Strong but small manufacturing sector
• Very strong in small satellites
Innovation and Growth Strategy
• UK government has set target growing UK space industry to £40 billion p.a. by 2030
• Assessed as ambitious but feasible by London Economics' in The Case for Space
• Threatened by Brexit
European Space Agency
• Independent intergovernmental agency
• Not part of EU
• Brexit will not impact ESA membership
• ESA has own form of ‘free movement’
• And ‘free movement of goods’
• Only for direct employees and official purposes
European Union
• Biggest negative impact
• Key to IGS targets is to grow exports
• Europe largest market, second fastest growth
• US effectively closed to foreigners
• Access to European markets is vital
Galileo
• EU Global Navigation System
• Navigation target growth sector under IGS
• Broadcasting dominates but is ‘tapped out’
• Galileo estimated to be worth 6-9 billion pounds over next 20 years for UK economy
• PRS key provision
• UK access now at risk
Other Risks
• R&D funding
• University funding
• Free movement of Workers
– 1/3 of staff come from overseas
– UK will need 100,000 new staff to hit IGS target
– European space industry highly international
• Public Sector Procurement
EU Space Policy
• Article 189 TFEU give EU competency
• EU taking increasing role
• IGS goal was to steer EU policy to UK’s favour
• EU programmes “have real synergy with UK national interests” – Civil Space Strategy
• Britain has led EU space policy debates
• Influence will diminish if not cease
UK Spaceport
• EASA and airspace access
• Both main candidates receive EU funding
• No change re Schengen