their publication of Futron’s 2011 Space Competitiveness Index: A Comparative Analysis of How Countries Invest in and Benefit from Space Industry.
This report marks their fourth annual independent study of global space competitiveness. Building on their prior reports, Futron’s 2011 SCI examines competitiveness dynamics from a fresh perspective, surveying four-year trends as a benchmark. The report analyzes 50+ qualitative and quantitative indicators of competitiveness across three dimensions: government, human capital, and industry. Using this framework, they offer a comparative assessment of 10 leading space-participant nations: Brazil, Canada, China, Europe (treated as a single integrated actor), India, Israel, Japan, Russia, South Korea, and the United States.
Futron's 2011 findings:
- The United States remains the overall leader in space competitiveness, but its relative position has declined for the fourth straight year as other countries enhance their capabilities while the U.S. undergoes major transitions, particularly in human spaceflight.
- International collaboration is increasingly taking shape as a concerted space competitiveness strategy, especially among smaller actors.
- Three distinct space competitiveness tiers have emerged, with especially intense competition within the middle and bottom tiers as gaps separating intermediate players continue to narrow.