Patrick Harkness: Why a down-to-earth approach is vital,

Given the state of the economy and the nation’s finances, spending cuts are expected in most walks of life.

The science budget, however, continues to receive steady support. This is to be applauded. A recent report found that UK research has a greater ratio of impact to investment than research done anywhere else in the world. British papers are cited more frequently and our universities – including many in Scotland – rank amongst the world’s most prestigious institutions.

As we reposition ourselves in a changing world, we recognise that other countries have growing influence on world affairs. This is as it should be: populous China and India have, or soon will, come to exceed our own economic output. We wholeheartedly welcome their success.

It is important, however, to note that the tremendous growth of the developing nations is often built on the adoption of existing technologies.

If growth is to be sustained, new technologies will be needed just as surely as the telegraph could support international exchange in the 19th century a global internet is needed to support commerce in the 21st.

Scientific research, one of the fields in which we excel, can help to drive not only our own economy but also to ensure sustainability for the developing world. We should unashamedly focus our efforts to the technologies of the future by supporting cutting-edge activities: activities such as space research.

Developing countries such as Brazil and Indonesia already rely upon it to monitor deforestation and tsunami threats. In the future it will be used ever more extensively to monitor the spread of disease and to facilitate the growing of crops.

If we seek to support international development, to make the world a better place, there can be few better avenues to take.

In so doing, we could reflect that the UK space industry sustained nine per cent growth over the past decade and is projected to grow to £40bn over the next 20 years. Investments in space are not made in space, but rather right here on Earth.

• Professor Patrick Harkness is a lecturer in space systems engineering at the University of Glasgow