NASA Partners With Colorado In Technology Acceleration Initiative
DENVER -- NASA Deputy Administrator Lori Garver and Colorado Governor Bill Ritter Jr., participated Monday in a Space Act Agreement signing ceremony at the Colorado State Capitol Building in Denver to promote the commercialization of technology developed for the space program.NASA's agreement with the Colorado Association for Manufacturing and Technology (CAMT) created a Technology Acceleration Program and Regional Innovation Cluster for Aerospace and Clean Energy. A manufacturing park focused on rapid new product development and production will be developed to assist growing Colorado businesses.
"This park will use Colorado's existing competitive strengths to boost
economic growth while creating new jobs and products for aerospace
and energy industries," Garver said. "NASA is pleased to collaborate
on new technology developments like the one being created through the
Colorado Technology Acceleration Program and Regional Innovation Cluster."
Under the agreement, small and mid-sized businesses will have direct
access to a NASA "innovation ambassador," an agency expert who can
identify NASA and partner technologies ready for commercialization.
The ambassador will conduct forums to drive partnerships among NASA
and Colorado businesses and help identify businesses that can benefit
from commercialization technical assistance.
"The new agreement with NASA is a perfect fit for Colorado because it
will enhance our leading aerospace industry and growing high-tech
business and research sectors," Ritter said. "Most importantly, this
will bring high-tech jobs to our state. Colorado is a hub for
innovation and continues to attract the best and the brightest
workers. Congratulations to CAMT and NASA for making this historic agreement."
The Technology Acceleration Program will allow companies to work with
NASA and expedite product development from an average of five years
to as little as 18 months. New products will get to market more
quickly, and new high tech jobs will be created.
"Aerospace and energy are the fastest growing industries in Colorado,
sharing the same supply base and similar workforce needs," said
Elaine Thorndike, chief executive officer of CAMT. "Through regional
innovation clusters, public and private sectors can work together to
increase business opportunities, technical assistance programs and
market penetration for aerospace and clean energy manufacturing strength."
The NASA-CAMT partnership will provide technical assistance and
identify gaps in commercialization and scouting services to help
companies looking for space-developed technologies and services. It
will help companies bridge the gap between prototype design,
manufacturing and commercialization, while identifying commercial
applications for NASA technologies.
Innovation is necessary to expand the U.S. economy and ensure
competitiveness in a global economy. Many new, innovative
technologies are developed by small and mid-sized businesses that do
not have a robust, in-house product development capability and lack
commercialization resources.
Through the agreement, NASA joins the state of Colorado, the U.S.
Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory and CAMT
in a pathfinder collaboration to promote innovation and global
competitiveness in the new energy economy.
CAMT is a statewide manufacturing assistance center dedicated to
increasing the competitiveness of Colorado manufacturers. The
association is the state affiliate of the national Manufacturing
Extension Partnership, a program of the U.S. Department of Commerce.
For more information about CAMT, visit:
http://www.camt.com
For more information about NASA's Partnerships, Innovation and
Commercial Space, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/oct
For more information about Colorado, visit:
http://www.colorado.gov
Source: NASA
