Singapore’s Space Cybersecurity: How Government Investment Fuels Deeptech Growth

If it takes a village to raise a child, the story of Singaporean deeptech startup SpeQtral is the progeny of a specialised innovation ecosystem with coordinated public and private support. Founded as a lab concept at a local university, the space-based quantum communications startup is rapidly becoming a global contender in space cybersecurity.

SpeQtral’s growth has been nurtured by a network of Singaporean public agencies – including the space office, cybersecurity agency, a research centre of excellence and the innovation agency – providing crucial support in policy, funding, networks, and technical expertise. Nine years after its inception, space has become a national priority for Singapore, and securing it is now considered key for governments.

The imperative for government leadership in investing in the space sector to instill market confidence and catalyse growth was highlighted by SGInnovate’s Deputy Director of Strategic Projects, Desiree Tung, speaking on the sidelines of CYSAT Asia, the inaugural Asia-focused cybersecurity of space infrastructures event held on February 5. The event was co-organised by SGInnovate and European cybersecurity company CYSEC.

David Koh, Chief Executive of the Cyber Security Agency of Singapore (CSA), delivered a keynote address at CYSAT Asia, noting that the current space ecosystem relies on technologies and geopolitical assumptions from “a very different era,” when cybersecurity was not a core design requirement. Vulnerabilities extend beyond orbiting satellites, encompassing ground stations, control systems, management networks, and supply chains.

Government as a Pioneer Investor

SGInnovate, wholly owned by the Singapore government, serves as a key entity in building deeptech innovation within the country. “We look at investing in early-stage technology – from pre-seed to Series A – and areas where perhaps they are not ready for the private sector yet,” Tung explains. This approach mirrors SGInnovate’s early investments in quantum technology three to four years ago, which, according to Tung, catalysed additional investment and signalled to the private sector to enter the quantum space.

This strategy of early government investment is now being applied to space cybersecurity. Market intelligence firm Quantum Insider reported in June 2025 that continued government funding, particularly through national quantum strategies, is a key driver in derisking early adoption and spurring private investment. Tung emphasizes the importance of building security into space infrastructure from the outset to avoid costly “last minute fixes” and ensure national sovereignty through secure-by-design infrastructure.

A gap in private investment for startups combining space and cybersecurity was also highlighted during the “Strategic Partnerships & International Investment in Space Cybersecurity” panel at CYSAT Asia. Patrick Barbey, Managing Director of Innovaud (the economic promotion agency of Vaud, Switzerland), and Tong Hsien-Hui, Head of Investments at SGInnovate, noted that such ventures often require a combination of contracts from entities like the European Space Agency (ESA) and public organisations, rather than purely venture capital funding.

Government as a Convener in an Interconnected Space

SGInnovate believes in fostering an ecosystem around startups, recognising that building a company can be a solitary path. By bringing together researchers, corporations, and investors, SGInnovate aims to create a collaborative platform for startups to develop capabilities and connections in emerging tech spaces.

Tong Hsien-Hui expanded on this point, stating that current solutions in space cybersecurity remain “narrow,” often focusing on specific parts of the infrastructure. He argued for greater global collaboration between governments and companies to “level up” these solutions. This call for a systemic approach aligns with CSA’s David Koh, who stressed the importance of addressing space cybersecurity not as isolated components, but “as a network of interconnected systems” spanning different organisations, developers, and end users.

Brigadier Richard Alston, Deputy Director for Cyber and Electromagnetic Effects and Special Operations of the UK Royal Marines, noted a shift in the military sector towards leveraging private sector expertise. “Rather than come up with a series of requirements and ask industry to go and address those requirements, we’re bringing industry in to define and design, not just targeting the requirements,” he said.

Looking ahead, SGInnovate’s Tong reflected that while various public agencies support space cybersecurity, a lack of coordinated effort remains. He expressed hope that the establishment of the National Space Agency of Singapore (NSAS) in April will consolidate these efforts and inspire greater confidence among private investors to engage in the space cybersecurity sector.

The success of companies like SpeQtral, and the growing recognition of space as a critical infrastructure domain, underscore Singapore’s commitment to fostering a robust and secure space ecosystem through strategic public-private partnerships and proactive government investment.