Utah builds the technologies that defend the nation and power the economy – KSL News

Utah builds the technologies that defend the nation and power the economy  KSL News

From the rockets that reach orbit to the technologies inside the cars, phones and infrastructure Americans rely on every day, some of the most consequential innovations begin as solutions to difficult problems.Today, a growing number of those problems are converging around aerospace, defense and other hard tech industries — fields that require significant engineering, advanced manufacturing, specialized talent and long development timelines. At the same time, advances in these industries are increasingly finding applications far beyond their original purpose.That convergence is fueling a growing hard-tech ecosystem in Utah, where companies, researchers, universities, investors, and government leaders are developing technologies with applications across national security and the commercial economy.The economic impact is substantial: Utah's aerospace, defense, and security industries contribute more than $53 billion to the state's gross domestic product and support nearly 478,000 jobs through direct, indirect, and induced employment.This momentum will be on full display during Utah's inaugural Hard Tech Week, a statewide series of demonstrations, facility showcases and industry events taking place Oct.

26–30. The week will bring together companies, investors and leaders shaping the future of aerospace, defense and hard tech, anchored by the 47G Zero Gravity Summit Oct. 28–29, which connects the people, expertise and resources needed to accelerate national security innovation and deliver the capabilities America needs. Photo: 47G Why hard tech matters nowHard tech