The Strategy of the Swedish National Space Agency

rymdstyrelsen.se The Strategy of the Swedish National Space Agency

Contents The Swedish National Space Agency as an expert authority with expanding responsibilities 3

Our strategy will respond to new challenges 4

An investment in space is ultimately an investment in Earth 6

Long-term strategic objectives 7

Strategic objectives will adapt Swedish space activities to changes in the world around us 9

Implementation of the strategy is subject to ongoing evaluation 11

IMAGE COURTESY OF: CONTAINS MODIFIED COPERNICUS SENTINEL DATA (2017), PROCESSED BY SINERGISE/ESA

COVER: ESA, COPERNICUS SENTINEL DATA 2017 AND 2018. THE COVER IMAGE CONSISTS OF TWO COMPARATIVE PARTS. THE RIGHT PART SHOWS THE DROUGHT THAT HIT THE SWEDISH PROVINCE OF SKÅNE IN THE SUMMER OF 2018. THE LEFT PART OF THE PICTURE IS FROM 2017. The Swedish National Space Agency as an expert authority with expanding responsibilities In May 2018, the Government of Sweden sent a written communication to the Swedish Parliament (Skr. 2017/18: 259 En strategi för svensk rymdverksamhet – a strategy for Swedish space activities), which was reviewed in the Committee on Education and was endorsed by the Parliament in November. As yet, this written communication has not resulted in concrete proposals for changes to the Swedish National Space Agency’s instruction, but this strategy document covers the objectives and orientation that are discussed in the document.

The Government’s document – relevant space infrastructure The agency should also help ensure follows the work of the commission by providing support for research that competitiveness of Swedish of inquiry on space (SOU 2015:75 En and technology development. This actors creates growth and jobs rymdstrategi för nytta och tillväxt work should generate open space through the provision of usable – a space strategy for benefit data that provide added value space data and processing tools via and growth). Both documents for Sweden, as well as research a competitive space industry. consider the increasingly rapid results of the highest international change in the space field. One quality, making Sweden a leading Due to our northern location, essential item that was not included knowledge nation. the Esrange space centre is an in the Government’s written important asset for Swedish communication is the need to The instruction makes clear that space activities. We believe that review the Swedish National Space the Swedish National Space Agency Esrange has great potential, Agency’s resources to meet the should participate in and benefit should there be opportunities for increased expectations placed on from European cooperation in Swedish participation in relevant the agency. the space sector in general, and programmes. the Galileo satellite navigation According to its current instruction, programme in particular. In Finally, the Swedish National Space the Swedish National Space Agency addition, the agency shall process Agency should cooperate with other should work so that space activities cases and be the contact body for actors in order to attract young and space research contribute to international space cooperation. people to education and professions the knowledge society, as well as to European cooperation in the space in science and technology. This is innovativeness and competitiveness sector is more comprehensive an area in which the Agency is very of the industry. The Swedish National now that Galileo (1) and Egnos (2) active today with very good results. Space Agency should work so that are in operation. Copernicus (3) is We note an increasing demand for space activities satisfy societal delivering large amounts of data this cooperation with teachers and requirements for space-related and services that are integrated schools. knowledge and the development with other data for routine use of technology in sectors such as and work has started on common 1. Galileo is a global satellite navigation system, comparable with the US’ GPS and Russia’s Glonass. It has transport, communications, and European space situational been developed by the European Space Agency (ESA) and is operated by the European Global Navigation climate and the environment. awareness. This strategy is in line Satellite Systems Agency. 2. Egnos is a regional augmentation system for GPS with both the EU’s space strategy and Glonass, providing higher precision for receivers in Europe. The name is an acronym for European The instruction states that the and the need to optimise the Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service. Stations on the ground measure the error in the ordinary signal and Swedish National Space Agency societal and economic benefits of broadcast a correction via geostationary satellites. The US has several augmentation systems, but WAAS is the should ensure the availability of space activities. one most similar to Egnos. 3. Copernicus is an EU programme that aims to develop secure, reliable and – to Sweden European information services based on Earth monitoring via satellite and (ground-based) field data analyses. This initiative is led by the European Commission, along with the European Space Agency (ESA) and the European Environment Agency (EEA). Our strategy will respond to new challenges Space activities are undergoing comprehensive global changes. In many regards, actors in the US are leading, showing the way for the rest of the world. There are many differences between the US and Europe, but there are two of primary importance here: the US administration works in a different manner to the European nations, and private equity is more readily available in the US. Multiple initiatives are underway in Europe to attract funds and private investment in space activities. In brief, the Swedish National Space Agency regards the following developments as important to this strategy.

Paradigm shift on both This affects ESA’s role and function in socioeconomic effects are being upstream and downstream European space activities. conducted in growing numbers of markets4 countries, showing the benefits in A technological shift is ongoing, On the one hand, ESA’s principle of the form of increased employment, with new applications using, “juste retour” is the basis of ESA’s more businesses, more students and demanding, space data. funding, allowing important and and increased cost-efficiency in Altogether this brings new business influential projects, but on the other publicly-funded activities. opportunities and opens up new hand it is a potential barrier to the markets. development of a commercial market. It is increasingly common to utilise synergies in the form of shared New markets and changing Clearer market demand and technology development for civilian conditions lead to increased reduced technology control leads to and military space infrastructure, competition over technology and new logic and new decision-making known as “dual-use”. customers. paths, which are demanded by the actors exploiting space data. This The relationship between ESA and More actors and increased influx also places increasing requirements the European Commission may, in of private equity to space activities on space infrastructure. the long run, entail an entirely new have resulted in a number of role for ESA. Moreover, expansive countries updating their space Political attention leads to EU programmes are increasingly legislation to attract new actors to higher expectations and important to Swedish space do their business in those countries. higher demands activities and the Swedish space The Government of Sweden has industry. Private equity and investment presented the first national space funds have increased in the US strategy. This has been examined in There is increasing knowledge and are on the way in Europe the Committee on Education and and understanding of how to New business models are debated in the Parliament, who forecast space weather, preventing being developed. For example, endorsed the strategy. societal problems on Earth. As development is not only paid for society becomes more dependent through publicly funded projects, but Space activities are on the agenda on space infrastructure, there increasingly through future income. in many countries. Studies of the is a growing need to monitor

4. Upstream and downstream normally relate to an organisation’s value chain. For space activities, this also coincides with upstream activities being satellites and ground stations that control the satellites, while downstream relates to the use and value-adding of space data. IMAGE COURTESY OF: RUAG SWEDEN AB

and mitigate collisions between as the Galileo satellite navigation Space research is developing satellites, space debris and natural system, is critical infrastructure that and widens to include more objects that move around the Earth. guarantees vital societal functions. disciplines This should be taken into account ESA’s science programme is As space activities increase in both as regards to monitoring and developing as research finds scope and importance, so does the emergency preparedness. answers that lead to new questions. need for international agreements New disciplines are being added to ensure that space is accessible Space technology works with and knowledge is growing, to everyone in a manner that is other technology in areas such as demanding dynamic responses and sustainable in the long term. digitalisation and miniaturisation increased resources. Increased digitalisation and new The society is increasingly more data management tools make it Developments within research dependent on space possible to handle large amounts of demand increased cooperation Space data is of great value data and have therefore become between different research funding and an important source for a strategic resource. Space data agencies, including collaborations knowledge-intensive industries and is used in more and more societal with non-public actors. companies producing advanced functions, driving the development information products and services. of technology in multiple areas. One Research results find new means Copernicus supports several interesting and rapidly growing area of dissemination, including where Swedish environmental objectives, is artificial intelligence (AI). and how they are published, and established climate targets and research funding agencies need the UN’s Agenda 2030 Sustainable New technology leads to smaller to review their requirements on Development Goals. satellites that solve the same pro- researchers vis-à-vis making results blems in new ways, but which also accessible. Security requirements are generally solve new problems that were not increasing, and particularly for previously addressed using space Space exploration has gained accreditation, cyber security and technology. More accessible techno- momentum, and both the Moon and information security. logy that provides cost-effective tools Mars are the focus of institutional changes the role and importance of and private actors. Some space infrastructure, such space activities in society. Equality and good education for all To continue being a successful space nation, Sweden should work towards widening An investment in participation in higher education to produce new engineers, entrepreneurs and researchers with knowledge of space. As space activities are broadening and space is ultimately an being used by more people, further education and activities to increase investment in Earth expertise are needed. The challenge is to strengthen Swedish research and innovation to optimise the available opportunities nationally, while being able to meet international competition.

We like to associate space activities with basic research UN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS, NUMBERS 4, 5, 9, 17 and advanced technological development. Today, space is also a natural part of the global infrastructure that affects our lives and how we execute different functions. Society’s dependence on space increases as the world around us changes. Climate and environmental monitoring, security and efficient communication technologies are a few Peaceful and inclusive examples. Sweden is a small country, but an important space societies in global partnership nation with successful research and innovative industry. With Space activities are international, and the right resources, Swedish space activities can maintain the Swedish space programme is also a strong international position, thus contributing to both our largely conducted through international own societal development and global work on the goals for cooperation. The Swedish National Space Agenda 2030. Agency promotes Swedish interests and development in both ESA and EU contexts. The image uses the UN’s global goals to show how space Sweden is also involved in work towards activities contribute to creating sustainable development, guaranteeing that space activities smart use of natural resources and management of natural are accessible for everyone and free disasters, as well as promoting peaceful communities. from war and conflicts. This includes the issue of how to manage orbiting space debris that threatens satellites in operation.

UN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS, NUMBERS 16, 17 Sustainable communities, industries, innovation and infrastructure Sweden is a nation with knowledge- intensive and innovative industry. In Monitoring climate change and modern society, satellites are necessary follow-up on environmental for well-functioning infrastructure, for agreements example efficient transportation and Satellites are decisive for monitoring financial services. international work on climate and the environment, for example following up Satellites provide information that facilitates agreements such as the Paris Agreement. relief work in emergencies such as forest fires, In Copernicus, Europe has built the world’s drought, flooding and other extreme weather most sophisticated satellite programme for conditions. In forestry and agriculture, satellite global environmental and climate monitoring of data is used to control the distribution of fertiliser land, air and sea. Copernicus data and services and seeds, land use planning and follow-up. Ice- provide an important basis for decision-making breaking based on satellite images saves resources, and for follow-up and calculation of the effects of both for merchant fleets and the environment. actions in environmental and climate work.

UN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS, NUMBERS 3, 6, 13, 14, 15 Global urbanisation requires new solutions to help achieve sustainable communities, and satellite studies are an Good health and well-being: Goal 3 is to ensure Decent work and economic growth: Goal 8 is to Life below water: Goal 14 is to conserve and important tool in this work. that everyone can live a healthy life and promote promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine well-being for all at all ages. growth, full and productive employment and decent resources for sustainable development. UN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS, NUMBERS 8, 9, 11 work for all. Life on land: Goal 15 is to protect, restore and Quality education: Goal 4, to ensure inclusive and Industry, innovation and infrastructure: Goal 9 is promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, equitable quality education and promote lifelong to build resilient agriculture, promote inclusive and sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, learning opportunities for all. sustainable industrialisation and faster innovation. and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss.

Gender equality: Goal 5 is to achieve gender Sustainable cities and communities: Goal 11 is Peace, justice and strong institutions: Goal 16 equality and empower all women and girls. to make cities and human settlements inclusive, includes promoting peaceful and inclusive societies safe, resilient and sustainable. for sustainable development.

Clean water and sanitation: Goal 6 is to ensure Partnerships for the goals: Goal 17 is to strengthen Climate action: Goal 13 is to take urgent action to availability and sustainable management of the means of implementation and revitalise the combat climate change and its impacts. water and sanitation for all. global partnership for sustainable development. IMAGE COURTESY OF: NASA, ESA, THE HUBBLE HERITAGE TEAM (STSCI/AURA), A. NOTA (ESA/STSCI), AND THE WESTERLUND 2 SCIENCE TEAM

Long-term strategic objectives

The strategic objectives are explicitly long term because, just like the Commission of inquiry for space and the Government of Sweden’s written communication to the Parliament, they are linked to the actual content of activities. The strategic objectives have therefore not been limited by or adapted to the Agency’s current resources. This strategy corresponds to the Government’s written communication that was endorsed by the Parliament.

For the Swedish National Space Agency, it is natural that Sweden must offer equal opportunities for everyone to invest in a career in Swedish space activities: women and men, native citizens or immigrants. Equality is not a strategic objective for the Swedish National Space Agency: it is an essential condition for all areas of activity. It is not affected by the Agency’s funding, it cannot be aimed at in part or prioritised in relation to other objectives.

Coordinating expert authority for Swedish space activities The Swedish National Space Agency identifies a great need to play a role of coordinator of Swedish space activities, gathering Swedish perspectives in order to establish and continually update the basis for Swedish positions on various international issues. The Swedish National Space Agency should:

• Establish meeting places for improving the exchanges of experiences among actors in Swedish space activities. One example is the aspects of foreign and security policy as a basis for international cooperation, another example is conclusions about how delegations and industry can cooperate within the EU to obtain better results for Sweden.

• Be a knowledge bank and a place for the preparation of background information for use as a basis for Swedish positions in international discussions, for example about rules and agreements on conduct in space, or proposals for EU regulations.

• Inspire children and young people to study science and technology, particularly through the development of classroom materials/teaching guides and, in partnership with various actors, through the development of further professional training for teachers who work with space-related subjects. • Have a leading and coordinating • Contribute to research results companies on the First North stock role in civilian-military cooperation, of the highest international exchange. Several companies are taking the perspective of the quality, making Sweden a leading also successful on the US market. total defence and with the knowledge nation. Likewise, Swedish researchers are intention of realising synergies recognised as conducting high- in the development of individual • Establish a national satellite quality research on interesting technologies and complete programme with innovative issues, resulting in invitations to infrastructure projects. research satellites to develop take up prominent positions in relevant research instruments, international projects. Although • Ensure that the Agency has support high-quality research and European cooperation continues a provision of expertise that demonstrate the capability of to be an important foundation is capable of meeting future Swedish technology. for Swedish actors, increased challenges. preparation for a more global • Actively participate in ESA’s perspective is needed. Guaranteeing access to secure, exploration programme, partly reliable and – to Sweden – to participate in research that is The overriding objectives are: relevant space infrastructure a global priority, partly because • Societal benefit should be at the Relevant space infrastructure Sweden can contribute through heart of Swedish space activities, includes that which is available the facilities at Esrange. so that user needs for products via the common European and services are satisfied and programmes of Galileo, Egnos • Work towards the appointment capitalised upon in the requested and Copernicus, as well as that of another Swedish astronaut, societal benefits. developed nationally and through because human spaceflight programmes in ESA. Participation has great value as a source of • Space data is a natural and in ESA gives Swedish researchers inspiration: humans have always important part of Swedish geodata access to vital infrastructure wanted to test their limits and provision. for exploration, space research explore unknown areas. and observations of the Earth. In • Support for the development of addition, there are plans for new • Make quality assured space competitive innovation and new infrastructure as a basis for better data and services available to commercial applications for forecasting of space weather, innovators, entrepreneurs and increased growth. an area in which Sweden has other developers in Sweden, for prominent researchers. Nationally, increased societal benefits and • To promote the development Esrange is being developed to cost-efficiency in publicly-funded of working commercial space become part of the joint European activities (for example, research, activities, both in Sweden and in infrastructure in more areas than it climate and environmental Europe, making Swedish space is currently. monitoring, and better resource activities attractive to investment utilisation of public assets, funds and private equity. Swedish industrial participation including civilian and military in these infrastructure projects is cooperation). • Widen the scope of calls for of utmost importance if Sweden research applications, so that is to be able to participate in and • Contribute to the further more disciplines can benefit from influence the development of these development of Esrange as space activities, for example in joint projects. Simultaneously, this an important infrastructure for political science and international includes recouping some of the Swedish and European space relations or space law. funding we put into these joint activities. international projects. The Swedish • Establish new programmes, National Space Agency should: Strengthen Swedish actors’ where research results that can competitiveness for be directly utilised in societally • Allocate funding to the sustainable growth and beneficial applications are development of technology that efficiency measures requested (demand-driven strengthens Swedish participation Swedish industry and Swedish research). in programmes and brings Sweden researchers are competitive in an influence in European partnership international perspective. One proof projects. of this is that we have four space Strategic objectives will adapt Swedish space activities to changes in the world around us

As established in the section Our strategy will respond to new challenges, the space sector is undergoing rapid development and also changing on numerous levels. Some of this development, which is often called “New Space”, means that actors and activities drive the development of space activities in a new way. The North American companies Planet and SpaceX are clear examples that build upon the interaction of technological development and market change. This development also leads to new requirements and conditions for the Swedish National Space Agency’s work on its long-term objectives. IMAGE COURTESY OF: CONTAINS MODIFIED COPERNICUS SENTINEL DATA (2018), PROCESSED BY ESA, CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO

Technical conditions are changing work actively with marketing, 2030 globally, and to understand due to miniaturisation and customer analysis and user-centred the processes that govern climate development in electronics, which software development, whilst also change and global emissions enable high functionality in small managing to attract venture capital. of greenhouses gases. Another satellites at a considerably lower To maintain competitiveness, actors application that is increasingly cost than previously. The availability in the space sector are required to significant is the use of space data of smaller, flexible launchers deal with traditional requirements in the Arctic cooperative actions. entails better opportunities for such as space qualification, and launching small satellites. The produce the highest quality and Another significant change in the need for information of companies long lifetime, while also being world is that a number of European and organisations that can be flexible, scalable and able to attract countries have updated their solved using space data creates private equity. national space legislation, especially a demand, and thus a foundation, in order to attract private equity for a commercial space market. This places huge demands on to the space sector. An updated Access to venture capital has led to companies and entrepreneurs, as Swedish Act on Space Activities the privatisation of parts of space well as on the Swedish National would increase the potential to infrastructure and its information Space Agency, which has the attract private equity to Swedish flow. Public funding for technology objective of funding research space activities, having, for example, development is no longer driven by and development for increased an impact on the opportunities to the needs for interstate cooperation Swedish competitiveness. Promoting attract international customers to in space. innovation and societal benefits in Esrange. This lack of an updated Act a sector that is undergoing rapid on Space Activities has a negative For private actors to succeed change, and with demands for impact on the Swedish National in New Space, a high level of societal returns on invested capital, Space Agency’s stakeholders, competitiveness is required, but requires time and resources. One complicates the Agency’s work and in somewhat different areas than task that is growing is ensuring may limit opportunities for looking previously. Companies must employ that space data can be used to after Swedish interests in space. the best scientists and engineers, achieve and to evaluate Agenda

Implementation of the strategy is subject to ongoing evaluation Investments in space activities have an impact on society as a whole. In order to better describe the effects of Swedish space activities, they should be regularly evaluated by independent bodies. Over the coming years, we intend to evaluate the socioeconomic effects of space activities.

To achieve its strategic objectives, The Swedish National Space the agency that promotes the the Swedish National Space Agency Agency has a wide range of development of Swedish space will continue to emphasise European expertise and we see great technology as the foundation cooperation, particularly within potential in establishing meeting for business competitiveness ESA and the EU. In the long-term, places for Swedish actors, both for and its use in European projects. participation in ESA is estimated to preparations prior to cooperation Strengthening the competitiveness remain at around two-thirds of the and experience assessment, and of the Swedish space industry Swedish National Space Agency’s for improvement work on the regarding technology in space, i.e. directed grant. Bilateral cooperation development of future working upstream technology, remains an with individual states or groups of methods. important focus of our work. states, within and outside Europe, is considered to be of continued Activities in space are the Swedish importance to Swedish space National Space Agency’s main activities. responsibility, and we should be rymdstyrelsen.se