SST Think Tank unveils global expert council and two strategic initiatives — Growth Lab and Executive Leadership Programme — to unlock Asia’s US$619B+ space economy

 In a bold move that signals the next phase of Asia’s ascent in the global space economy, Singapore Space & Technology Ltd (SSTL) has officially relaunched as the SST Think Tank – Asia’s first global space think tank dedicated to mainstreaming space and commercialising space technologies across non-space sectors.

With the cumulative value add of increased Earth Observation adoption in Asia Pacific projected to hit an astounding US$619 billion by 2030 and commercial downstream applications already outpacing upstream investments, the SST Think Tank is uniquely positioned to transform space into an economic enabler across industries such as sustainability, environmental, AI, Quantum, cyber security, robotics, IoT, logistics, health tech, insurance, and finance including climate resilience, supply chain security, digital infrastructure, and advanced manufacturing.

“Asia has long been a quiet powerhouse in space, but we’re now reaching critical mass,” said Dr. Kartik Sheth, Chair of the SST Think Tank Council and former NASA Associate Chief Scientist.

“The SST Think Tank is both a signal and a solution—we are here to catalyse commercial outcomes and shift space into the mainstream of global business strategy. I am delighted to be accompanied in the Council by such prestigious global leaders as Dr. Raha Hakimdavar, Hidetaka Aoki, Candace Johnson, and Jason Bender,” (see attached profiles).

From Ecosystem Builder to Commercialisation Catalyst

Founded in 2007, SSTL has spent nearly two decades building the region’s space ecosystem—from convening global players at the Global Space and Technology Convention (GSTCE) to facilitating international missions and capacity-building for startups.

The pivot to the SST Think Tank brings added firepower, global reach, and intellectual leadership to that original mission. SST Think Tank will continue to anchor the annual GSTCE, which doubled in size in its 2025 edition and will now benefit from the expanded international profile and networks of the new Council.

“SST Think Tank continues to serve as a hub for Asia’s space ecosystem, but with a new engine behind it,” said Jeremy Chan, Chairman of SST Think Tank.

“With our Council’s global reach, we’re enabling deeper cross-sector integration, more strategic dialogue, and real traction for space tech in commercial markets.”

What the Think Tank Will Do

The SST Think Tank will tackle space commercialisation through:

• Innovation Labs & Strategy Sprints – Hands-on problem solving with corporates and regulators
• Space x Industry Showcases – High-visibility platforms such as GSTCE for business matchmaking
• KOL-Led Content & Roundtables – Co-creation of research and market intelligence with global leaders
• Sector Deep Dives & Market Insights – Whitepapers, trend reports and cross-sector workshops

With space now seen as a strategic enabler for economic transformation, Singapore’s SST Think Tank will ensure Asia plays a defining role in its evolution.

“We see space as a horizontal technology, like the internet. And like the internet prior to becoming widely adopted across every company and household in the world, we have reached an inflection point in the space industry: the time is now for the space economy to grow to new heights by mainstreaming space – bringing it into non-space verticals to multiply the innovative power of our technologies today. The SST Think Tank brings together a cross-section of global talents, each representing important space economies, to accelerate the adoption of space technology. This is our answer to unlocking the $619 billion space economy opportunity for Asia and to contributing to the global space enabled economy overall,” said Nicolette Yeo, General Manager, SST Think Tank.

Strategic Programmes to Accelerate Space Adoption

At its launch, SST Think Tank unveiled two anchor initiatives that demonstrate the breadth of reach of the SS Think Tank:

1.    SST Growth Lab

The Growth Lab will help Asia’s space companies internationalise their technologies and business models, tapping on the expansive network of the SST Think Tank Council, who represent every major space region, including the US, Europe, the Middle East, Japan and Australia.

The Growth Lab will include elements such as:

• Connecting startups to global space corporations and investors
• Offering tailored market-entry sprints, policy exposure, and trade facilitation
• Providing in-market business development and fundraising support
• Organising investor demo days in top global funding capitals
• Convening industry dialogues with public-private stakeholders across Asia and beyond
• Hosting engagements with the SST Think Tank Council to align global insights with startup needs

2.    Deloitte-SST Executive Leadership Programme

Developed in collaboration with Deloitte, this flagship course uses the lens of space innovation to train senior business leaders in applying space principles to terrestrial challenges.

Modules include:

• Moonshot Thinking – Pairing bold vision with concrete multi-year planning
• Experimentation at the Edge – Building risk-tolerant innovation cultures
• Systems Thinking at Scale – Applying interdependency awareness to modern enterprise
• Mission-Driven Leadership  –  Strengthening  purpose  alignment  in  high-

performance teams

• Resilience Engineering – Using failure simulations and scenario planning as leadership tools

“From mining asteroids to colonising Mars, space inspires leaders to set bold targets and teaches them how to think strategically, systemically, and creatively to achieve them,” said

Duleesha Kulasooriya, Managing Director, Deloitte Centre for the Edge and Innovation Leader, Deloitte Asia Pacific.

“Our Executive Leadership Programme will take those insights from orbit to office— empowering leaders to drive transformation, not just tech.”

Looking Ahead: Asia’s Space Moment Goes Global

The formation of the SST Think Tank bridges deep space expertise with terrestrial market needs, serving as a global convenor, knowledge hub, and catalyst for next-generation partnerships. As space becomes central to climate resilience, supply chain security, digital infrastructure, and advanced manufacturing, SST Think Tank invites corporate leaders, policymakers, and entrepreneurs to collaborate in building an inclusive, innovation-driven global space economy – starting here in Asia.

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