Beyond new space: Changing organizational forms, collaborative innovation and public and semi-public domains

Abstract

The core argument of this paper is that a new stage of a rather complex co-existence and co-evolution of space organizations is being entered with the emergence of public-private collaborative organizations driven by digitalization, sustainability and safety. Contrary to expectations of some fifteen years ago and except for a few notable cases in space communications, the New Space economy is seeing the formation of a new public and semi-public “era” of orbital space economy and in-orbit servicing in association with diversified funding schemes and a niche sector of new technological and business innovations in a global system of increasing fragmented production. These innovations relate to environmental and safety concerns, cost reductions, shorter life cycles, as well as a bolder market approach to non-space sectors. The emerging organizations address global challenges and are gradually engaging an increasing number of business firms and startups, together with research and technology organizations. They clearly gain from the New Space, but are mostly driven and funded by diversified funding schemes, with space entrepreneurship and equity investors balanced by an increasingly relevant role of public funding driven by digitalization, sustainability and safety, together with emerging public and semi-public goods.