Finding space to make money
The future is now – Naomi Pryde looks at securing the commercial support to help Scotland win the space race
The space sector is evolving faster than ever before, and Scotland is right at the heart of that momentum. From satellite data to launch services, Scotland has emerged as one of Europe’s fastest-growing space nations, home to pioneering start-ups, innovative research, and an increasingly sophisticated ecosystem of investors and partners.
But as the commercial space race accelerates, so too does the complexity of the legal, regulatory and commercial environment. Founders, investors and executives aren’t just launching rockets, they’re building businesses in a frontier economy where the rules are still being written. That’s the backdrop to Sleepless in Orbit: What Keeps Space Founders Awake at Night, a panel I’ll be moderating at this year’s Space-Comm Scotland in “Satellite City”, Glasgow, as part of the conference’s legal symposium. Hosted by DLA Piper, the symposium will bring together some of Scotland’s most pioneering voices in the space industry for an honest conversation about what it really takes to operate, and thrive, at the edge of technology and law. We’ll be exploring the questions every space company faces but rarely voices publicly: How do you protect intellectual property when your innovations cross borders, time zones and orbits? How do you secure investment in what is perceived to be a risky sector? How do you navigate the complicated legal framework and ensure compliance, while turning a profit?
Behind the excitement of launch campaigns and funding rounds, these are the issues that can make or break a business. We’ll address how space companies are adapting to evolving compliance requirements, balancing innovation with regulation, and building resilience into their contracts and operations. We’ll also discuss sustainability, the interplay between space and defence and the proposed EU Space Act.
It’s a timely conversation. As governments around the world race to strengthen their national space strategies, the legal framework surrounding commercial space activity is becoming more intricate. The proposed EU Space Act is seeking to impose new regulations, ranging from cybersecurity and data governance to sustainability and debris mitigation, and this is reshaping how companies plan and operate. For founders, that means understanding not only the science of space, but also the governance of it.
Companies across the global space economy are grappling with these challenges in real time, and need help anticipating risk, protecting value and future-proofing their businesses in a market where the technology regularly moves far faster than the legislation.
Ultimately, space is not just a technological frontier, it’s a legal one. The future of the space economy won’t be determined only by what’s engineered in laboratories or launched from spaceports, but also by what’s agreed in boardrooms contracts, and courtrooms.
A thriving space economy can contribute to technological progress, economic growth and strategic advantages, and many countries are increasing their investments in space exploration, leading to more collaborations and advancements in space technology. Scotland’s own space law evolution will be shaped by technological advancements, geopolitical considerations and industry growth. As commercial space activities expand, the legal framework must remain flexible to emerging challenges.
For Scotland, this isn’t just an opportunity to participate in the new space economy – it’s a chance to lead it.
Naomi Pryde is a Partner and the Global Co-Chair of DLA Piper’s Space Exploration and Innovation practice