The Västra Götaland Region is investing SEK 5 million in the space industry of the future through Space West – a strategic platform aimed at developing a Swedish ecosystem for commercial space. The goal is to promote innovation, national security, and international competitiveness.
“Much of our smart society today relies on data from space – from communication and navigation to climate monitoring and defense. By investing in Space West, we attract development companies to the region, contribute to technological advancement, and strengthen the region’s role as a driving force in Sweden’s growing space sector,” says Madeleine Jonsson (Green Party), Chair of the Committee for Environment and Regional Development, Västra Götaland Region.
Space is a strategic and high-tech field, and the space industry is growing rapidly. Commercial actors are becoming increasingly important, business models are changing, and the market for space services is expected to multiply in the coming decade. Sweden has a long tradition in space research but is lagging behind in the development of commercial services. Through Space West, West Sweden has the opportunity to take a leading role in reversing this trend.
A Hub for Swedish Space Innovation in Gothenburg
The platform will serve as a hub for commercial space activities in Sweden. It will be based in Gothenburg, where key players are already established – including space companies, high-tech firms, research environments, and end users. The proximity to Chalmers University of Technology provides a strong link to technical research. At Chalmers, work is also underway to develop a proposal for a new master’s program, provisionally titled Space Systems Engineering.
“Space West is an investment in innovation and collaboration today, and a way to build expertise for tomorrow. A new master’s program at Chalmers focused on space-related technology for commercialization and research would be a great complement to Space West and a way to secure future top-level expertise in the field in West Sweden,” says Rüdiger Haas, Professor of Space Geodesy at the Onsala Space Observatory and leader of Chalmers’ space research initiative.
A Collaborative Platform for the Space Services of the Future
Space West, operated by the new research institute Chalmers Next Labs, will bring together companies, academia, and public-sector actors to develop new advanced technological solutions, business models, and collaborations in the space domain. Particular focus will be placed on applications and value chains with so-called dual-use, where civilian and military benefits are combined – an increasingly important area in today’s geopolitical landscape. The platform will complement other space initiatives in the region, especially in Trollhättan, Skövde, and Borås.
“Space West is a first step toward a new Swedish space ecosystem. The aim is to create the right conditions for developing a commercial space sector with applications that also meet public needs. Participating companies will gain access to networks, expertise, and support to meet the needs of public actors such as the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency (MSB), the Swedish Armed Forces, and the Swedish Transport Administration,” says Aaron Dinardi, Project Coordinator at Chalmers Next Labs.
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...about Chalmers' thematic area Space.
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- Områdesledare, Space, Earth and Environment