World Space Week 2026: How IP Is Powering the Evolution of Space and Its Impact on Society

Contents

• Space, Spirits and Shared Trade Marks
• UK Bets £7.8bn on Space Tech's ‘Significant Growth Opportunities’
• A New Era of Global Space Access – Norway, the US and Canada
• Space Has No Borders, But IP Does
• The IP Behind a Safer Orbit
• Hong Kong Takes Flight
• Malaysia's Leap into Space

Branding

Space, Spirits and Shared Trade Marks

The penchant for creativity and artistry amongst the space industry really shouldn’t be a surprise, given the general love for mission patches, flight tags, stickers and all manner of other merchandise celebrating the work being done. As the space industry becomes increasingly commercialised, the graphics decorating these products are increasingly acting as brand indicators.

A notable example is the collaboration between SaxaVord Spaceport and nearby SaxaVord Distillery in Shetland. Through products such as Countdown Gin and Good Heavens Gin, the two organisations have demonstrated how trade marks can enable cross-sector partnerships that raise the profile of both businesses. Although they operate in entirely different industries, each owns trade mark rights to the SAXA VORD name in classes relevant to their respective activities. The partnership highlights how intellectual property extends beyond technology protection, helping to create commercial opportunities, build regional awareness and foster wider public engagement with the space sector and its contribution to society.

Ella Newell (Senior Associate, UK) and Louise Mansion-Bowen (Associate, UK)

Read the full article to discover how IP is creating opportunities for collaboration between the space sector and other industries.

International Space IP

UK Bets £7.8bn on Space Tech's ‘Significant Growth Opportunities’

The UK government's new £7.8 billion national space strategy is a strong signal of its continued commitment to the sector and its ambition to translate space innovation into commercial and strategic advantage. Bringing together investment across areas such as satellite communications, in-orbit servicing, space manufacturing and sovereign launch capabilities, the strategy reinforces the importance of maintaining momentum in space-sector research and development while ensuring the UK remains competitive on the global stage. Space technologies already deliver significant economic and societal benefits, and continued investment will be critical to unlocking their full potential.

Looking ahead, the strategy presents significant opportunities for UK innovators, particularly in emerging fields such as in-orbit servicing, assembly and manufacturing (ISAM) and advanced satellite systems. Continued support for initiatives such as SaxaVord Spaceport will also be important in strengthening the UK's sovereign launch capabilities and securing its position within the global space economy. Ultimately, the long-term success of the sector will depend not only on developing new technologies, but also on protecting and commercialising them effectively through robust intellectual property strategies.

Yun-Hang Cho (Trainee Patent Attorney, UK)

Read more about Yun-Hang's full comments in World IP Review.

A New Era of Global Space Access – Norway, the US and Canada

On September 28, 2026, SpaceX's Starship completed its 14th test flight, successfully reaching orbit and deploying next-generation Starlink satellites. The mission executed complex orbital burns and a simulated booster splashdown, advancing the timeline for a fully reusable, heavy-lift architecture designed for massive commercial deployment and deep-space exploration.

Norway

In parallel, Norway captured the historic milestone of conducting the first orbital launch from continental Europe on September 5, 2026, when Isar Aerospace’s Spectrum rocket lifted off from the Andøya Spaceport. This achievement was largely enabled by Norway's streamlined and pragmatic regulatory framework. By updating its Space Act and efficiently granting Andøya its Launch Site Operator license through the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries in 2024, Norway created an agile environment tailored to commercial spaceflight. Other European nations are also working on this. In the UK, the Civil Aviation Authority licensed the SaxaVord spaceport in Shetland earlier in December 2023, although there has not yet been a suborbital launch.

The United States

These developments simultaneously illustrate differences in priority. In the US, the cost of launch for commercial business is a major driver of innovation. Starship introduces unprecedented payload scale at radically reduced costs (Starship can launch double to triple the payload mass of the Falcon Heavy, reducing the price per kilo from $1,400 to less than $600). On the other hand, in the context of unstable global politics, Europe is more concerned with independent continental access to Space without relying on partners.

Canada

The dual nature of these priorities is also reflected in Canada, where companies such as NordSpace are advancing domestic launch capability through developing their own launch platforms and building their own Atlantic Spaceport Complex in Newfoundland and Labrador. In 2026, NordSpace secured significant government support, including $8.3 million in Canadian Department of National Defence funding under the Launch the North program to advance its Tundra orbital launch vehicle, as well as a further $10 million public-private investment to accelerate construction of the Atlantic Spaceport Complex. The company is also expanding operations through a new 60,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Ontario and is targeting orbital launch capability from Canadian soil by 2028, supporting Canada's broader objective of establishing sovereign and independent access to space.^{1 2 3}

A complementary approach is being pursued by Maritime Launch Services through Spaceport Nova Scotia, Canada's first commercial spaceport. Rather than developing its own launch vehicles, Maritime Launch Services provides launch infrastructure and services to multiple launch providers, including international companies such as Isar Aerospace (Germany) and INNOSPACE (South Korea), as well as Canadian launch company Reaction Dynamics. In a major step toward sovereign space access, the Government of Canada announced in 2026 that the Department of National Defence (DND) would lease a dedicated launch pad at Spaceport Nova Scotia to support the operational needs of the DND, the Canadian Armed Forces, and Canada's long-term sovereign access to space. This multi-user spaceport model enables Canada to support both domestic and allied launch activities while leveraging commercial launch providers from around the world. ^{4 5}

1) theoac.ca
2) canada.ca
3) nordspace.com
4) maritimelaunch.com
5) prnewswire.com

Wilfred So (Partner, Canada) and Yun-Hang Cho (Trainee Patent Attorney, UK)

Space Has No Borders, But IP Does

Companies can protect future growth by registering intellectual property (IP) rights for their innovations. However, there is currently no specific outer space IP jurisdiction, and existing IP laws are limited by territory according to national laws. For now, these existing IP frameworks can still provide effective protection by focusing on on-earth activities, but as the industrialisation of space accelerates, we will need to quickly adjust to a new reality of outer space as a separate territory with many players in active competition.  Future commercialisation and growth would be better supported if IP frameworks were updated to provide more certainty to actors and innovators in this emerging market.

Phil Merchant (Principal, UK) and Yun-Hang Cho (Trainee Patent Attorney, UK)

The IP Behind a Safer Orbit

As satellite constellations expand and orbital environments become increasingly crowded, the risks posed by space debris are becoming more urgent. Many companies are turning their attention toward technologies for mitigation, including innovative developments toward in-orbit monitoring, servicing, and removal technologies.  The most astute companies recognise that these solutions provide valuable intellectual property that can be registered for commercial advantage.

For example, the Japanese company Astroscale demonstrate how businesses in debris mitigation can complement innovation with a competitive IP strategy: in 2025, Astroscale added to their patent portfolio with US patent 12,234,043 for a ‘Method and System for Multi-Object Space Debris Removal’. Astroscale’s patent is granted ahead of their upcoming ELSA-M mission, which will be the first commercial mission for End-of-Life services, serving Eutelsat, the European Space Agency (ESA), and the UK Space Agency (UKSA).

Louisa Spillman (Trainee Patent Attorney, UK)

Hong Kong Takes Flight

The selection of Dr. Lai Ka-ying as Hong Kong’s first astronaut aboard the Shenzhou-23 mission marks an exciting milestone for our local tech ecosystem. Although Hong Kong’s start-up has traditionally focused on FinTech, AI, and digital services, Dr. Lai’s transition from computer forensics and software-intensive research to an orbital payload specialist demonstrates the transferable nature of our local technical expertise. It serves as a reminder that Hong Kong’s strong capabilities in data processing, electronics, and engineering have significant applications within the broader aerospace and high-tech supply chains.

This synergy between local talent and global scientific achievements – further highlighted by Hong Kong hosting the 2026 Asia-Pacific Regional International Astronomical Meeting – opens new avenues for the city’s intellectual property landscape. As niche R&D collaborations grow and cross-border tech ventures seek protection for advanced software, hardware components, and analytical systems, patent practitioners will play a crucial role. Dr. Lai’s journey into space is a powerful reminder of the extensive reach of our local technical expertise, providing IP professionals with ample inspiration as we strive to safeguard the next wave of homegrown innovations.

Monique Chu (Managing Partner, Hong Kong)

Malaysia's Leap into Space

Malaysia is poised to become the first country in Southeast Asia to have its own space launch facility. It is well placed to be a regional hub for the space sector, as the geographical location along the Equator provides a distinct advantage, enabling more efficient rocket launches with reduced fuel costs. Several sites are currently being evaluated, with the aim of establishing the facility by 2029.

Intellectual property is a foundational element in the Malaysian Space Agency's strategy to shift from a consumer of space technology to an active sovereign producer, as the government is strongly encouraging public-private partnerships, hence IP is required to form a legal bridge between government R&D, international treaties, and commercial markets. The forthcoming budget will be closely watched to determine the strategic priority granted to the space industry.

Chris Hemingway (Managing Partner, Malaysia)

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