Universities, NASA and space companies meet to discuss the future of Florida’s space ecosystem

by Joe Kays

Nearly 200 university researchers and representatives of the space industry gathered April 21st at the Kennedy Space Center to launch the next phase of the Florida Space Research Consortium (FSRC), a statewide partnership designed to align Florida’s universities around space research, innovation and workforce development.

Representatives of the eight partner institutions in the consortium — Embry‑Riddle Aeronautical University, Florida A&M University, Florida Institute of Technology, Florida International University, Florida State University,  the University of Central Florida, the University of Florida and the University of South Florida — joined NASA officials, space industry leaders and investors in a day-long discussion of how to strengthen Florida’s competitiveness in a rapidly expanding global space economy.

“Florida’s space sector — spanning civil, commercial and national security missions — has entered a period of rapid growth, creating new opportunities for collaboration among universities, industry and government agencies,” said Robert Long, president and CEO of Space Florida, the official aerospace economic development agency for the state.
 

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