Singapore’s New Space Agency: How Far Can a Small Nation Punch Above Its Weight in the Global Space Economy?

ABI Research wrapped up a couple of days supporting the first ever Space Summit 2026 in Singapore, with engaging and thoughtful discussions around the entire space ecosystem. Below are a few high-level insights:

1. Singapore to Establish a New Space Agency: The National Space Agency of Singapore (NSAS) will focus on expanding the space economy, strengthening Research and Development (R&D) efforts, fostering partnerships with international organizations and private companies, building and operating national space capabilities, and setting standards for space safety and sustainability.
2. Cybersecurity and Secure Communications Is a Significant Priority: Across various panel discussions, many speakers highlighted the significance of secure communications in space, especially with the growing use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and edge computing. Beyond satellite connectivity, secure data transmission is essential to ensure that information such as Earth Observation (EO) imagery, Intelligence, Security and Reconnaissance (ISR) data, Internet of Things (IoT) and sensor data, Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) information, and other crucial data are transmitted safely and securely.
3. Launch Business and Economics: Current launch demand is clearly outpacing launch supply and capacity, especially with planned mega-constellations and recent Federal Communications Commission (FCC) filings. For instance, in January 2026, China submitted applications for over 200,000 satellites, and SpaceX put in a request to have a million satellites in orbit for space-based data centers. Despite current backlogs and supply-side bottlenecks, there’s an incoming wave of regional launch providers that are aiming to serve their local and regional markets. These include PLD Space, Equatorial Space, and Perigee Space, among others.
4. Emerging Opportunities in In-Space Services: With more satellite constellations orbiting in space, there is growing interest in in-space services, such as in-space manufacturing, in-space computing, logistics and transportation, in-orbit refueling, extension of life missions, space situational awareness, and more. One key demand drivers is the life expectancy of current satellites in orbit. For instance, many geostationary satellites are reaching the end of their operational lifetimes, and these services are key to maintaining and optimizing satellite operations.

NSAS will be established under the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) of Singapore and expand on the work of the Office for Space Technology and Industry (OSTIn), which was under the Economic Development Board (EDB). Key areas that Singapore is looking to invest in include climate and sustainability technologies, space sustainability technologies such as space situational awareness and debris remediation, and microgravity research in space.

What is NSAS’s impact on the local, regional, and global space sector?

• Local/Singapore—Creating a Coordinated National Space Ecosystem: A new space agency will organize fragmented initiatives from various organizations such as OSTIn and the Singapore Space & Technology (SST) Think Tank toward a more coordinated national space strategy that improves alignment between government, defense, academia, and the commercial sector. This will lower barriers of entry into the space sector and accelerate R&D by providing clearer long-term directions. Local companies in the space industry (including those involved in Artificial Intelligence (AI), edge compute, Quantum Key Distribution (QKD), launch, semiconductor, and chipsets) will have greater clarity on partnership opportunities with the space ecosystem, which can support them in expanding internationally. Local space startups can be further supported through increased government investments (such as the Space Technology Development Programme), alongside the development of national space legislation and regulations that are intended to be pro-innovation and pro-business, helping to enable scalable and competitive growth.
• Regional/Asia—Positions Singapore as a Regional Space Hub: Singapore is widely recognized as a leading technology and financial hub in Asia, driven by its business-friendly environment and openness to international investors. This is further strengthened by its strong diplomatic ties and harmonious relationships with countries globally. The country has already established strong partnerships with several international space agencies to strengthen technical collaboration and expand market access, with these relationships expected to grow further under the new space agency. Singapore will be recognized as a regional hub that attracts space startups and anchors high-value activities such as R&D, financing, and collaboration, supporting critical manufacturing and launch activities across the region. Singapore can act as a neutral hub to support cross-border commercial and research partnerships in the space sector. For instance, SpeQtral, a Singapore-based quantum communications company, and SKY Perfect JSAT formed a partnership to accelerate the commercial deployment of ultra-secure satellite communications via quantum cryptography technologies. Similarly, Singapore’s Defence Science and Technology (DSTA) is collaborating with India’s Digantara, a space situational awareness company, to co-develop tools, and test and evaluate software applications to increase accuracy in tracking Singapore’s satellites.
• Global—Elevate Singapore’s Strategic Standing: While Singapore is a small country that lacks land mass, there is no shortage of talent in the space sector. Currently, the country has over 70 companies and 2,000 professionals specializing in the downstream space value chain, alongside a growing number of emerging companies on the supply side, such as Equatorial Space and ALIENA, demonstrating Singapore’s expanding space capabilities across the entire ecosystem. These innovations can indicate to global companies that Singapore is on top of the latest technologies and has a long-term commitment in the space sector. Having established a formal national space agency, Singapore can engage in deeper participation in multilateral space initiatives and standards bodies discussions.

On the commercial side, NSAS can assist in catalyzing demand for downstream applications, such as secure communications, cybersecurity, and satellite services, and increase awareness of the value of satellite-enabled solutions across industry verticals, including maritime, aviation, agriculture, energy & utilities, transport & logistics, and climate-related sectors.

For Government and Policymakers:

• Position Singapore as a Neutral Hub for International Space Collaboration: Singapore has a reputation for hosting high-stakes, sensitive, and large-scale events for international diplomacy. Some examples include the 2018 Trump-Kim Summit, the 2015 Xi-Ma meeting, and the annual Shangri-La Dialogue. Space is ultimately a shared domain that requires international collaboration, so Singapore is well positioned to host similar space-related events by leveraging its strong bilateral ties with foreign countries.
• Encourage Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) to Lower the Risk of Emerging Technologies: The space sector has gained significant attention in recent months due to its transformative potential, such as space-based data centers, mega-constellations to enable worldwide coverage, and advancement in Direct-to-Cellular (D2C) capabilities. It also comes with technical uncertainties, higher investments, and operational risks. PPPs can support and drive space technologies advancements through risk sharing and cost mitigation. Furthermore, joint partnerships in infrastructure development (such as ground stations and satellite constellations) and data sharing can accelerate innovation by pooling expertise and resources across the ecosystem.

For Private Space Companies and Startups:

• Align Solutions and Services with National Priorities: This will allow greater access to investments and funding for developing scalable solutions for real-world challenges. For example, in 2025, the Singapore government announced that it will invest an additional $60 million on top of the initial commitment of $150 million to boost its space technology research. These technology sectors will include AI and edge computing, space sustainability and traffic management, satellite-based EO, microgravity research, and other critical enabling technologies.
• Invest and Innovate in Downstream Applications Across Key Industry Verticals: Industry verticals that can extract value from using satellite-enabled solutions will be more keen to adopt them to optimize their business operations. For instance, proven use cases and Return on Investment (ROI) exist in satellite-based monitoring of vessels in the maritime sector, improving mission-critical communications and air traffic management in aviation, using EO and remote sensing technologies for climate monitoring, and developing a more robust and resilient supply chain in the transport & logistics sector.
• Prepare for Stricter Regulations Around Security and Compliance: Space infrastructure is increasingly being classified as a critical national asset, accompanied by growing exposure to cyber and AI-driven threats. In order to remain competitive and build trust among end users (including customers and enterprises), it is essential to invest in a robust and resilient security architecture. This will ultimately enable a strong and sticky customer base built upon trust and confidence.

For Investors and Industry Partners/Associations:

• Promote Space-Related Industry Events to Increase Awareness: There are many space industry events globally, including Satellite 2026, Global Space Technology Convention & Exhibition (GSTCE), Space Symposium, and Asia Pacific Satellite and Space Community Conference (APSCC), amongst others. Raising awareness to drive adoption is a critical first step in building traction and momentum within the space industry. Events like the Space Summit are where thoughtful conversations, ideas, and actions take place. Adoption of the solutions will occur naturally once enterprises are aware of the value it brings to their businesses.
• Prioritize Companies That Demonstrate Dual-Use Applicability: Companies that provide dual-use capabilities for both the government and commercial sectors offer strong growth potential and revenue stability. Typically, companies with the government as an anchor customer will secure steady revenue and be able to expand their customer base to the commercial market, allowing for rapid scaling of the business. Some examples include ST Engineering, Addvalue Technologies, and Zero-Error Systems.