Space activities and applications are increasingly relevant to the economic and policy priorities globally. They support critical infrastructures, enable new sources of data and services, and contribute to innovation, resilience and international co-operation. As the space economy evolves, governments need robust evidence to understand changing capabilities, market dynamics and policy challenges, and to ensure that space activities deliver broad-based benefits while remaining safe, secure and sustainable.
This publication contributes to the OECD’s programme of work on science, technology and innovation, carried out under the Committee for Scientific and Technological Policy (CSTP). It draws on the longstanding activities of the OECD Space Forum, which brings together governments and space agencies to improve the international evidence base on the space economy and to support policy dialogue on emerging issues. Building on earlier OECD work on the measurement, impacts and governance of space activities, The Space Economy at a Glance provides a concise and comparative overview of recent developments across countries and value chains.
The purpose of this report is to help policy makers assess the factors shaping competitiveness in the space economy, including investment, industrial capabilities, research and innovation partnerships, entrepreneurship, supply chains and access to finance. It also points to areas where new capabilities may emerge, and to the policy questions raised by the expanding scale and diversity of space activities, including orbital congestion, space traffic management, debris and environmental externalities.
By bringing together indicators, analysis and policy insights, this report aims to support stakeholders in the space sector, and in particular governments, in designing policies and actions that strengthen innovative, resilient and responsible space ecosystems. It also contributes to the OECD’s broader objective of supporting countries in harnessing science, technology and innovation for economic growth and prosperity for all.