The Space Economy, Deep Tech, and Beyond

The Space Economy includes the activities, agents, and actors and the use of resources that create value and benefits in the course of researching, settling, and utilizing space. In 2023 the current value of the Space Economy is estimated to be worth $500B, with estimates putting it at $1T by 2030, $4T in the 2040s, and as high as $10T in 2050. The Space Economy is driven by space technology (a category of deep tech), space data, government spending, venture funding, and commercial firms seeking to expand into this fast-evolving economic frontier. Deep tech is the larger category defined as the pursuit of hard science, engineering innovation, and scientific challenges with the goal of profits as a business model. In addition to space commercialization, deep tech also involves AI/ML, biotech, new energy, and other complex sciences and engineering.         

This course will explore the industry leaders, legal frameworks, and seminal documents of space law and deep tech, with a particular focus on the economic and financial implications of space commercialization. By the end of the course, students will understand the concept of deep tech, the difference between the space industry and the space economy, what space economics are, and will explore differences in approaches to the space economy across international borders. Students will benefit from instruction and experience from two recognized speakers, writers, and teachers in this new field. Students will also understand the particular policy issues and differences between the US and other regions.

This course will build off of some concepts introduced in IPSI Blockchain, Cryptocurrency, and the Law but it is not a requirement to take that course first.