UK Space Agency: Economic evaluation of the International Partnership Programme: Cost-effectiveness Analysis

The International Partnership Programme (IPP) is a five year, £30 million per year programme run by the UK Space Agency (UKSA). IPP focuses strongly on using the UK space sector’s research and innovation strengths to deliver sustainable economic or societal benefits to emerging and developing economies around the world.

It is part of and funded from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy’s Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF). This is a £1.5 billion fund announced by the UK government to support cutting-edge research and innovation on global issues affecting developing countries.

IPP has now completed three years of implementation. During this time, it has funded 33 projects in 44 countries and built new partnerships between over 120 space-sector organisations and 147 organisations in developing countries.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of the UK Space Agency’s International Partnership Programme (IPP) and to assess the case for space-based solutions for development more generally. The report shows that space solutions are:

  • 12 times more cost effective at delivering sustainable forestry
  • 7 times more cost effective in supporting agriculture
  • Twice as cost effective for ensuring disaster resilience

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