From June 1-2, 2023, the second annual Keystone Space Conference was held in Pittsburgh. The conference is part of the Keystone Space Collaborative, a non-profit whose mission is to support the space industry in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia by making commercial space opportunities more accessible, as well as attracting space industry businesses and talent to the tri-state area.
At the conference, Department of Community and Economic Development Secretary (DCED) Rick Siger announced that the Shapiro Administration made new investments to boost Pennsylvania’s leadership in the aerospace sector.
“The Shapiro Administration is thrilled to support Pennsylvania’s growing space industry,” said Secretary Siger. “The Commonwealth’s diverse space ecosystem is rooted in a legacy of innovation and is supported by a highly educated workforce and world-class research institutions. We look forward to building on Pennsylvania’s success, and ensuring our companies continue to lead the way in this dynamic sector.”
McGowan’s microgravity biotech commercialization research was specifically highlighted as part of Pennsylvania’s “legacy of innovation.” The McGowan Institute was also mentioned as one of the area’s key research institutes crucial to “fueling the research and workforce that space companies need to succeed […] and ensuring that the rapidly accelerating growth in this sector is collaborative, inclusive, and strategic.”