Looking for business and collaborations, the British space industry has invaded Colorado for a couple of days. A half-dozen British space-industry leaders are in town to meet with economic-development and space-industry leaders.
Colorado was a logical choice for the delegation, with the state’s concentration of space-related military commands, eight major aerospace contractors, higher-education programs and about 400 companies that develop, design and build everything from software to satellites to missiles, group members said.
It’s the “entrepreneurs and startups — the people who are thinking out of the box” — that define Colorado organizations as potential creative partners, said Keith Mason, chief executive of the United Kingdom’s Science and Technology Facilities Council.
The timing is right too, Mason said, adding, “We’re all in the same economic situation. Space is a global industry, and partnership is the key to succeed.”
A similar British space business mission is planned in Florida, and Mason recently visited California.
The two-day space mission in Colorado began Monday with a half-day seminar explaining the United Kingdom’s space-exploration program.
Joining in hosting the seminar were the Colorado Space Coalition, a group of industry stakeholders working to make Colorado a center of aerospace excellence, and the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade.
“We have much to offer the global marketplace and are encouraged by the United Kingdom’s mission to come explore ways to partner with Colorado and technologies,” Dwayne Romero, executive director of the state economic-development office, said in a statement.
Today, the group will meet with businesses such as Ball Aerospace & Technologies and DigitalGlobe. Asked if any deals have been struck, Mason replied, “It’s a bit early for that, but there are always things cooking.”
Ann Schrader: 303-954-1967 or aschrader@denverpost.com
