NASA Industry Day speakers and agenda announced

James L. Reuter, NASA’s associate administrator for the Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD), will be among featured speakers at NASA’s Northeast Pennsylvania Industry Day slated for this Friday, Sept. 23, at the University of Scranton’s DeNaples Center.

The regional business-building event will include networking and one-on-one matchmaking sessions for area small business owners to explore opportunities to work with NASA.

Reuter provides executive leadership and management of the technology programs within STMD, with an annual investment value of more than $1 billion. STMD develops space technologies to enable future missions to the Moon, Mars and beyond, including the upcoming Artemis I launch. STMD is focused on advancing technologies and testing new capabilities at the Moon that will be critical for future crewed missions to Mars.

Congressman Matt Cartwright (PA-8) will provide the event’s opening keynote address Friday morning.

“Northeastern Pennsylvania has a proud industrial heritage, and I’m looking forward to helping our local businesses work with NASA on advancing America’s world-leading space exploration program,” said Cartwright, who serves as Chairman of the Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriations Subcommittee, which oversees funding to NASA. “I thank NASA for their valued effort to form successful partnerships with local businesses that will generate a strong economic impact in our community.”

NASA’s Business and Industry Day will include 15 buyers from NASA and related industries and 40 small businesses from the region. During the afternoon’s one-on-one networking sessions, participants will be paired with multiple “buyers” from government and industry relevant to their company’s offerings. These meetings will provide attendees with government contract advice and guidance on how to work with NASA and other aerospace contractors. Over the course of the afternoon, close to 150 individualized matchmaking sessions will take place.

The NASA Northeast Pennsylvania Industry Day will be held on the fourth floor of the University of Scranton’s DeNaples Center. The regional business-building event will include national and local speakers, presentations, and networking opportunities in collaboration with the Keystone Space Collaborative, Northeastern Pennsylvania Industrial Resource Center, and Northeastern Pennsylvania Alliance Procurement Technical Assistance Center.

“Collaboration with businesses is a cornerstone of NASA’s technology development and exploration work,” said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson. “We look forward to connecting with the innovators of Northeast Pennsylvania and sharing information about opportunities to work with NASA.”