SNP Business Minister Richard Lochhead has vowed to refresh Scotland’s space strategy as he addressed the Space-Comm Expo in Glasgow.

The minister argues that Scotland is set to become a significant player in the burgeoning global space sector, but his government’s 2021 strategy is now in need of an update to reflect the sector’s priorities.

Speaking ahead of the Expo, Mr Lochhead said: “Space is one of Scotland’s greatest economic opportunities and a new chapter in our long tradition of world-class innovation.

“The pace of change has been astonishing.

“Scotland’s space sector generates almost £400 million in income and employs more than 7,000 people.

“If you track the rate of growth across nearly a decade, with space organisations up by 60 per cent and a 100 per cent increase in income, you are not simply talking about growth, you are talking about acceleration.

“We now have the UK’s first licensed space port and are moving towards its first orbital launch.

“We are not just an emerging space nation, we are one of the best places in Europe to locate, invest and grow.”