India surpases Canada in space competitiveness
Posted Sep 10, 2011 03:26:50 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
MONTREAL – Experts are worried about a U-S report that shows India has moved ahead of Canada in space competitiveness.
The 2011 Space Competitiveness Index said Canada is also losing ground to other big players in space.
The results were compiled by American consulting firm Futron.
The index analyzed 10 countries and compared how they invested in and benefited from the space industry.
It said delays by Ottawa in presenting a long-term space plan are offsetting Canada’s competitive advantages.
Industry representatives fear the delays may put Canada behind in the space robotics sector where it has built a worldwide reputation with its iconic Canadarm.
Steve MacLean, the head of the Canadian Space Agency, has spent years working on a long-term space plan that was originally due in 2008.
But Kevin Shortt, the President of the Canadian Space Society, said MacLean’s plan has been categorically rejected and is basically a dead horse.
The space agency had no comment when asked about the Futron report.
