ALBUQUERQUE- Q Station, a collaborative workspace supported by the Air Force Research Laboratory and U.S. Space Force has chosen six companies for its inaugural Soft Landing Space Tech Cohort.
The year-long program will give companies an opportunity to work in the growing New Mexico space ecosystem and to learn more about the U.S.’ space technology needs and how they may be able to work with the federal government to meet those needs.
The inaugural Soft Landing Space Tech Cohort companies and their headquarters are:
- Blue Eye Soft – South Carolina
- Equatorial Space Systems – Singapore
- Leaf Space – Italy
- Neutron Star Systems – Germany
- Rogue Space Systems – New Hampshire
- SPiN Tech – Germany
Each company will have at least one employee working out of Q Station, and the international companies will establish Q Station as their U.S. headquarters.
As part of the cohort, the companies will be given free workspace at Q station for a year, a paid university intern, connection to top U.S. space research and development hubs located in New Mexico, and a year of business assistance in government contracting, public relations, marketing, and finance.
In addition to New Mexico’s space ecosystem, the companies will be connected to U.S. Space Force efforts regionally and nationally, through SpaceWERX, the innovation arm of the Space Force dedicated to pursuing and integrating innovative private sector technologies. Q Station is facilitating SpaceWERX efforts in New Mexico.
“Collaboration with the private sector is integral to accelerating space innovation for the U.S. Through this first-of-its-kind program we are making it easier for that kind of partnership to occur. We are breaking down barriers smaller private companies have faced when figuring out how they might work with the federal government, and we are making it easier for the Space Force and other government partners to learn what emerging technologies exist”
said Gabe Mounce, Deputy Director of SpaceWERX.
Q Station is operated through a Partnership Intermediary Agreement between the Air Force Research Laboratory and the New Mexico Trade Alliance. Funding for the cohort comes in part from an Economic Development Administration (EDA) SPRINT grant awarded to the Trade Alliance and partners: the City of Albuquerque Economic Development Department and Global Ties ABQ.
“We want to thank AFRL and the EDA for this investment in New Mexico and in the future of our country’s space industry. This cohort and its anticipated outcomes are a great example of what’s possible when all levels of the government work together with the private sector”
said Randall Trask, Executive Director of Q Station and President of the New Mexico Trade Alliance.
About Q Station
Q Station is a partnership focused on driving high-tech economic development and new business opportunities to New Mexico. Partners include: The Air Force Research Lab, U.S. Space Force, City of Albuquerque, The New Mexico Trade Alliance, New Mexico Tech University, NewSpace New Mexico and Global Ties Albuquerque.
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