The Business of Space

Course Overview 

Learn about commercialisation in the sector, as well as the fundamentals and drivers of space, entrepreneurship, and business development.  

• Course Name: The Business of Space 
• SCQF Credit Level Equivalence: 10 
• Prerequisites: None
• Total Hours: 30 hrs study time + 1day 

Course Duration and Dates 

• Course Duration: 6 weeks online + 1 in-person workshop 

Course Summary 

• Overview of the global space sector 
• Legal frameworks for space activities 
• Intellectual property in space 
• Economic and political drivers of space 
• Marketing, business development, and technical sales 
• Space entrepreneurship 

The course concludes with an on-campus session focused on leadership and teamwork, where participants will apply their knowledge in a practical setting. 

Learning Outcomes 

By the end of this course, you will: 

• Understand the broad drivers of the space market. 
• Have knowledge of key intellectual property issues related to space. 
• Engage in discussions on marketing and business strategy in space, including the challenges of technical sales. 
• Know the routes to starting a new space company and be able to pitch to investors. 
• Be familiar with relevant industry standards, including jargon and terminology. 

Course Format 

• Synchronous Online Delivery: 6 weeks 
  • 1 hour of online weekly meetings plus engagement with discussion boards
  • 3-4 hours of independent study per week
• In-Person Workshop: 1-day session in Edinburgh, where you will apply the skills learned during the course with the guidance of industry experts. 
• Assessments: Formative assessments through weekly online quizzes and tests, including quantitative assessments, to provide feedback aligned with industry standards. 

Meet the Experts 

Course Leaders 

• Dr Matjaz Vidmar
• Prof Iain Woodhouse

Industry Experts 

A team of leading industry professionals will be available during the in-person workshop to facilitate learning and engage with participants.