The National Space Agency of Singapore will entrance the Republic’s ambitions to be a frontrunner in space applied sciences
[SINGAPORE] The Republic will arrange the National Space Agency of Singapore (NSAS) under the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) from Apr 1.
The transfer was introduced by Singapore’s Minister-in-charge of Energy and Science & Technology Tan See Leng on the inaugural Space Summit on Monday (Feb 2).
The agency will entrance national space ambitions to be a frontrunner in space applied sciences and a reputable contributor to the worldwide space ecosystem.
It might be headed by Ngiam Le Na, who has been appointed as chief government (designate) from Monday, and can turn into NSAS’ chief government from Apr 1, 2026.
Ngiam has 25 years of expertise within the public service. She was the previous deputy chief government officer at DSO National Laboratories, in addition to deputy chief government of the Defence Science and Technology Agency.
NSAS will present “decisive leadership for Singapore to seize opportunities in the expanding space economy and the new possibilities posed by democratised access to outer space”, stated Dr Tan, who can be minister for manpower.
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It will take over from the present Office of Space Technology & Industry, Singapore, and construct upon its features.
NSAS will deal with 5 key areas: strengthening analysis and growth (R&D), growing the space trade, advancing worldwide partnerships, growing and working national space capabilities, and creating laws for space security and sustainability.
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A multi-agency operation centre might be set as much as help authorities companies with satellite tv for pc duties and geospatial information analytics, which may assist numerous areas comparable to port operations, city planning and meals safety.
The Republic might also additional develop its constellation of satellites for national functions, in addition to different functions throughout the Equatorial Belt.
Dr Tan stated Singapore will make investments strategically in rising areas, which embody local weather sustainability applied sciences comparable to satellite tv for pc distant sensing for carbon monitoring, space sustainability applied sciences and microgravity analysis in space for advances in human well being sciences.
Singapore’s space trade has round 70 space firms that make use of 2,000 individuals. The authorities has devoted S$200 million since 2022 for space R&D via the Space Technology Development Programme.
Space applied sciences and capabilities are a crucial enabler for Singapore’s economic system, stated Dr Tan, as they underpin important features comparable to digital connectivity, navigation, maritime monitoring and local weather resilience.
Singapore’s strengths in superior manufacturing, aerospace, micro-electronics, precision engineering and synthetic intelligence make it effectively positioned to seize new alternatives within the sector, he added.
According to Boston Consulting Group, the worldwide space economic system will develop to greater than US$1 trillion by 2040 from US$400 billion in the present day, because of a discount in launch prices, the proliferation of satellites amid rising demand and the anticipated commercialisation of space launches by the non-public sector.
The Space Summit 2026 is held at Marina Bay Sands Singapore from Feb 2 to three, and is a management discussion board that sees policymakers, space companies and trade figures discussing infrastructure, sustainability and investments.
Organised by Experia Events – which additionally organises the Singapore Airshow – the summit is endorsed by Singapore’s space agency, the Office for Space Technology & Industry, which is a part of the Singapore Economic Development Board.
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