From prestige to productivity
Falling launch costs, small-sat constellations, and AI-ready earth observation data make space an economic utility. For Canada—vast geography, resource industries, Arctic responsibilities—space infrastructure is a multiplier on GDP, safety, and climate adaptation.
| Segment | Canadian angle | 2025–2035 value driver |
|---|---|---|
| EO (earth observation) | Forestry, wildfire, ice flow, methane | Insurance pricing, ESG verification, operational safety |
| Satcom & PNT | Rural broadband, maritime, aviation | Productivity uplift in remote work and logistics |
| In-space services | Robotics, refueling, debris | Leverage Canadarm lineage and autonomy |
The public–private blueprint
Public missions can de-risk capex for private applications: wildfire intelligence markets, Arctic navigation, fisheries compliance, and critical-infrastructure monitoring. Data policy—open by default, priority access for emergencies—will crowd in commercial solutions.
What leaders can do
- Treat EO as a core data layer: fuse satellite with IoT for operational decisions.
- Bake space data into insurance and lending models: asset-level risk pricing.
- Co-invest with provincial and federal programs on rural satcom backhaul.
- Build dual-use products: environmental compliance tools that also serve defense.
- Develop talent pipelines with aerospace programs; emphasize autonomy and robotics.
Arcus Insight: Space is no longer about rockets; it’s about data gravity. The firms that master orbital data fusion—fast, cheap, explainable—will earn a durable operating advantage on the ground.