CORONA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--TriTech Small Business Development Center (SBDC), hosted by Riverside Community College District (RCCD), is entering into an agreement with NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California to pilot a new business model to spur economic development.
NASA and TriTech SBDC will sign the formal Space Act Agreement on April 17, 2017, at 5 p.m. PDT at the RCCD Office Rooftop Terrace in Riverside, California.
A major benefit of this partnership is to help facilitate the technology transfer and commercialization of NASA technologies into the Southern California region. The agreement enables TriTech SBDC to assist businesses to expand and open new avenues for creating jobs.
“This partnership will help expedite the transfer of cutting-edge NASA technology to local businesses for the betterment of our country,” said Armstrong’s Center Director David D. McBride. “By using established economic development organizations like TriTech SBDC, we can reach a broader audience from industry. We are looking for businesses to apply our technologies and successfully commercialize NASA technology.”
The agreement is unique because it is the first time NASA is partnering with a community college system, and using multiple NASA commercialization programs. It gives TriTech SBDC the authority to be a liaison for licensing NASA research and development technologies to develop businesses and high-wage jobs in the counties of Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and San Diego. TriTech will model new technology-driven economic development strategies and models, and will assist in replicating the models nationwide.
“The signing of the Space Act Agreement opens NASA’s doors to all businesses and colleges in the Desert Region. It is an honor that NASA has chosen to partner with RCCD's TriTech SBDC on such a significant economic development program,” said Chancellor Michael Burke, Riverside Community College District. “The RCCD, its three colleges, and the regional business community will all reap the benefits of this partnership.”
TriTech signed a similar business development agreement leading to licensing of Navy technologies with the U.S. Navy through the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Corona Division. The Partnership Intermediary Agreement with the Navy was a model for NASA to develop a similar collaboration agreement with combined research and development technology portfolios under TriTech SBDC.
“TriTech SBDC will forge new business relationships in California emphasizing commercial aerospace technologies,” said Mark Mitchell, director of TriTech SBDC. “With 85% of jobs in the U.S. created by small businesses, we believe that the commercial aerospace industry will remain a major employer. As a result, small and medium sized companies could start businesses outside of traditional aerospace industry by repurposing aerospace technologies such as information technology, materials science, sensor technologies and additive manufacturing.”
“TriTech SBDC, with a portfolio of $590 million and 1,300 jobs created or retained since 2006, anticipates the five-year agreement to create high paying technology jobs in our region and over a thousand throughout the state,” Mitchell added.
To register for the formal signing event, please contact Brittany Cox at 951-571-6226 or brittany.cox@rccd.edu.
About NASA’s Regional Economic Development Program
The TriTech Small Business Development Center is partnering with NASA’s Regional Economic Development (RED) program, and managed by NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California. The RED program is part of NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate. RED is NASA's effort to spark economic growth by creating, contributing to, catalyzing, and supporting economic and innovative ecosystems across the country. For more about Armstrong Flight Research Center, visit http://www.nasa.gov/centers/armstrong.
About TriTech Small Business Development Center
TriTech is a Small Business Development Center (SBDC) (www.tritechsbdc.org) that works with high technology high growth firms by offering no cost consulting and training to entrepreneurs and businesses looking for go-to-market strategies that will accelerate the growth of their enterprise. TriTech also provides trainings and workshops on topics that are relevant and valuable to the business community. All of TriTech’s services are provided at no cost to small businesses.
