Twenty-eight companies and organizations, including publicly-listed companies and professional sports clubs, have joined the community. Additionally, SPACE COTAN has raised 66 million yen in funding.
SPACE COTAN Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Taiki Town, Hiroo District, Hokkaido; Representative Director and President: Yoshinori Odagiri), the company operating the Hokkaido Spaceport (abbreviated as HOSPO), an open-to-the-world launch site for rockets and space planes, is pleased to announce the establishment of the “HOSPO SUPPORTERS” community (https://hokkaidospaceport.com/supporters). Participating companies support HOSPO and aim to foster mutual collaboration towards forming a Silicon Valley of the Space Industry centered around HOSPO.
Furthermore, SPACE COTAN is pleased to announce that it has raised a total of 66 million yen through a third-party allotment of new shares on July 30, 2021. With this capital increase, the total amount of funds raised has reached 142 million yen.
Through these efforts, SPACE COTAN will accelerate the expansion of facilities at the Hokkaido Spaceport, which will serve as a hub for space, and the formation of a Silicon Valley of the Space Industry centered around the Hokkaido Spaceport.
■Background
Rapidly growing demand for transportation to space and Hokkaido Spaceport
In recent years, there has been a surge in demand for satellite launches due to the analysis of image data from satellites and large-scale constellation projects aimed at providing communication services. Furthermore, there is an increasing demand for space transportation in various contexts, such as the transport of supplies to the International Space Station, exploration projects to the Moon and other planets, and the development of space travel services for the general public by private companies.
In response to this demand, over 100 companies worldwide have been established with the aim of developing rockets and space planes. Many of these companies have already succeeded in commercial rocket launches or are planning to do so within the next few years.
Amidst this situation, the Hokkaido Spaceport began full-scale operation in April 2021 as an open spaceport (a complex facility including launch pads and runways for launching rockets and space planes) that can be used by all those involved in the space industry, including rocket launch operators worldwide.
Hokkaido Spaceport aims to become a hub for space development in Asia, leveraging its location suitable for rocket launches to both the east and south, high rate of clear weather, and excellent access from airports and ports. The spaceport is continuing to develop launch sites for additional satellites and expand its runways.
■By 2025, two satellite launch pads will be developed, leading to the creation of the Silicon Valley of the Space Industry.
Currently, Hokkaido Spaceport has facilities such as Launch Complex-0, where Interstellar Technologies launches the observation rocket MOMO, and a 1000-meter runway. In the future, by 2023, a satellite launch pad “Launch Complex-1” and a 300-meter runway extension for spaceplane experimental aircraft are planned. In addition, a satellite launch pad “Launch Complex-2” is scheduled to start operations in 2025. This will create an environment where rockets and spaceplanes from around the world can be launched at a high frequency from Hokkaido Spaceport.
Furthermore, beyond that, Hokkaido Spaceport aims to form the “Silicon Valley of the Space Industry” by becoming the core for the region, gathering rocket, spaceplane, and satellite manufacturing bases, research bases, related industries, and tourism industries. It will create a positive cycle, including synergy effects with existing industries such as primary industries in Hokkaido. According to the Japan Policy Finance Corporation Hokkaido Branch and the Hokkaido Economic Federation, the economic ripple effect of constructing a new launch site in Taiki Town, Hokkaido, is estimated to reach 26.7 billion yen annually. In this way, Hokkaido Spaceport is not only creating a spaceport but also gaining empathy from many people as an initiative to contribute to regional revitalization and the SDGs through the formation of the Silicon Valley of the Space Industry.
■First domestic spaceport support community “HOSPO SUPPORTERS”
With the full-scale operation of Hokkaido Spaceport, various forms of support for facility expansion and the formation of the Silicon Valley of the Space Industry have been gathered from diverse industries. Many of these companies have a strong commitment to regional revitalization and contributing to the SDGs, or are businesses engaged in aerospace ventures as new ventures. HOSPO SUPPORTERS was established with the aim of visualizing these supportive companies and accelerating business collaboration among companies with the same aspirations.
■SPACE COTAN, 66 million yen capital increase
In addition, SPACE COTAN announces that it has raised a total of 66 million yen through a third-party allotment capital increase, with INCLUSIVE Inc., Obihiro Shinkin Bank, Cariotech Inc., Satsudora Holdings Inc., Nishie Construction Inc., Hagiwara Construction Industry Inc., Hokkaido Electric Power Co., Inc., and Miyasaka Construction Industry Co., Ltd. as the underwriters. With this capital increase, the total amount of funds raised reaches 142 million yen.
With this round of fundraising, we aim to promote the above activities and accelerate inter-company collaboration and business expansion, aiming for a faster and more reliable expansion of Hokkaido Spaceport facilities and the formation of the Silicon Valley of the Space Industry.