The skies and the stars have fascinated humankind for millennia, captured in the telling 20th century idea of ‘The Endless Frontier’. In recent decades, dramatic shifts in the ‘how’ and ‘why’ of space exploration along with the ‘who’ and the ‘what’ are evidence of the rise of space commerce and entrepreneurial activity around the globe. This current commercial and entrepreneurial focus has changed both the actors and their aspirations for space, as well as the rules of the game.
Worth an estimated GBP £1 trillion in the coming decades, the global space industry offers wide open challenges and opportunities for investment, innovation, and entrepreneurial activity – this while mobilising cutting-edge technologies to solve intractable problems on earth. These experiments in distributed innovation, partnerships, commons governance and sharing of risks and tech expertise will only intensify in the coming years. This series of events explores these developments with a suite of panels that convene experts in science, commerce, and policy to share their insights and questions.
The Oxford Smart Space series will provide first-hand insights into the opportunities and challenges of the global space industry. It is co-hosted by the Oxford Space Initiative, along with Pembroke College and the Oxford Aeronautical Society (AerOx). The talks are part of efforts at Saïd Business School to build a social science initiative as part of the university-wide Oxford Space Research Network (OSRN). The initiative unites researchers and practitioners from economic sociology, technology and innovation management, governance and law, international relations, major program management, strategy and leadership. To engage with the social sciences space activities, please contact us at smartspace@sbs.ox.ac.uk
Hosts
Our team of hosts brings access to cutting-edge research, a wealth of industry experience and the ability to discuss complex concepts and lead high-level executive debate.
Join us for the third Oxford Smart Space Event: In this episode, starting from examples of novel funding solutions observed in defence, security, intelligence, and related industries, we explore the distinctive conditions of space and alternative venture funding models that are unlikely in more standard commercial settings.
Join us for the inaugural episode of the Oxford Smart Space virtual series event of 2021: Smart Space Technologies and Governance. This episode of the ‘Oxford Smart Space Seminars’ explores the idea of Smart Space, a term that points to three important developments in the emerging space sector in Europe and the UK.
Space identity, skilled work, and the professions
Space is a place, and its character is changing. From an alien domain where few ventured to undertake risky missions of exploration, it is currently undergoing a transformation into an accessible, viable location for commercial infrastructure focussed on boosting terrestrial economic activity.
Michele Scataglini, Saïd Business School, Associate Fellow
David Lehmann, Saïd Business School, Research Assistant
