Rising Spacetide Lifts Space Startups in Japan 🚀🇯🇵
Tim Parsons, our Expert in Residence at the National Space Industry Hub, takes us on a trip to Asia’s largest dedicated NewSpace conference.
Billing itself as Asia’s largest dedicated NewSpace conference,
Spacetide Japan July 2022 shrugged off Covid-19 lockdowns - and major Japan entry restrictions - to hold a 3-day masked-up program of panels, speakers and exhibits focused on “New Value Creation” for the world, from space.
Invited, and intrigued by the incredible growth of Japanese companies like
iSpace,
Astroscale,
Ale Co.,
Axelspace,
Gitai,
SpaceBD,
Pale Blue Infostellar and
Synspective - and a fascinating cast of Japan Inc. corporates looking to do a lot more than dip their toes into the sector - like ANA, Kyocera, Mitsubishi Electric, Mitsui, NEC, Sony, Yokogawa - I threw Covid caution to the wind and went.
"The perspective on market opportunities within our region - as opposed to the European or US view - is priceless.”
And what a conference! Spacetide President & CEO Masayasu Ishida kicked off calling for space to really create massive value for humanity. The Spacetide team pulled no punches in inviting the créme of space pioneers regionally and globally, with Rocketlab’s Navid Fatemi, Nanoracks’ Jeffrey Manber, AWS Aerospace’s Clint Crosier and Fleet’s Flavia Tata Nardini all presenting deeper views into their journey’s than previously seen, at this key time at “the end of the beginning” of Newspace globally. Shout out to Alisa Starkey from Aussie geospatial champ Ozius for her terrific panel presentation.
Three strong impressions that I'm getting out from the conference:
- A renewed and dynamic space ecosystem.
Like Australia, Japan Inc.’s relationship with space has been re-invigorated by both home-grown and global Newspace pioneers
- The Corporate VC offices are the key players
CVCs – corporate VC offices – are much more prominent in the Japanese ecosystem than traditional VCs or family funds
- Space junk is a huge problem—and it's only getting bigger
How to protect the commons for the benefit of all, especially mitigating #spaceJunk - is at the top of everybody’s agenda."
Japan has a dedicated association for Spaceports featuring several former astronauts, a strong signal about how one of Australia’s top trading partners feels about launch market opportunities in the region”
There are many ideas and surprises that I take away from Spacetide, but without a doubt, the ones that marked me the most were:
- No slowdowns in space's private investments
Seraphim Capital’s Mark Bogget is not seeing any slowdown in the pace of private investment in space
- Launch market opportunities in the region
Japan has a dedicated association for Spaceports featuring several former astronauts, a strong signal about how one of Australia’s top trading partners feels about launch market opportunities in the region
- ANA's and Virgin Orbit partnership impact
ANA’s tie-up with Virgin Orbit to launch from Japan is ambitious and comprehensive – watch this space.
Spacetide is planning more events around Asia. If you get a chance to attend, I recommend doing so! The perspective on market opportunities within our region - as opposed to the European or US view - is priceless.