Colorado Project Assembles Suite of Space-Tech Business Services

While dozens of states have instituted clean-tech strategies in order to cash in on the high-tech wave of the future, some are looking even further ahead. In several western states, private space travel and companies are drawing the attention of political leaders, researchers and investors eager to pioneer an industry that may still be many years away from creating dividends. California has long been involved in promoting space technology companies through the California Space Authority, which offers workforce training and business support opportunities. In New Mexico, Virgin Galactic plans to begin construction on Spaceport America next year with $67 million in state funds once the project is approved by the Federal Aviation Administration (see the Dec. 19, 2005 issue of the Digest).

 

Colorado also has entered the arena with the launch of the Eighth Continent Project, hosted at the Colorado School of Mines Center for Space Resources. The project has assembled an array of services, including a trade association, a planned incubator and venture fund, and a collaborative research program for private space enterprises. Project Director Burke Forke believes the program will help position Colorado as a leader in 'Space 2.0' in which the industry will be dominated by venture-backed entrepreneurs instead of large government projects.

 

The Eighth Continent Project differs from other state and university initiatives because of its focus on the private space flight industry and its commercialization services. The nation's 52 space grant consortia, based at universities around the country and administered by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, promote space research and education, but few of these offer services tailored to the needs of space entrepreneurs. The project will offer workshops and conferences for researchers and entrepreneurs and will launch a venture fund next year, along with its space-tech incubator and a workforce development program.

 

Partners in the program include Colorado's CTEK, the Governor's Office of Economic Development, the Colorado School of Mines, the University of Colorado Leeds School of Business Deming Center, the Keirestu Forum, and several existing space businesses.



Find out more about the Eighth Continent Project at: http://www.8cproject.com