When the first composite structures for NASA’s Artemis program rolled out of Hexcel’s plant in West Valley City, or when Utah engineers designed the solid rocket boosters that carried America back to the stars, the world may not have known it, but Utah was leading. From the mountains in the north to the desert skies in the south, this state has been quietly building technologies that keep America exploring, defending and dreaming.
Not long ago, Utah’s economy was largely fueled by tourism and legacy industries. Today, it is one of America’s fastest-growing centers for aerospace, defense and space innovation — a transformation decades in the making. From Ogden’s advanced manufacturing corridors to Logan’s satellite research labs and Provo’s biotech startups, Utah has proven that when education, industry and community align, entire economies can be reborn.
“Deep tech” isn’t a buzzword — it’s the frontier of quantum computing, space systems, biotechnology, advanced materials and autonomous systems. These are the technologies that will redefine how we live, travel, communicate and defend ourselves.
America has faced similar moments before: World War II accelerated radar, jets and cryptography; the space race catalyzed microelectronics and global communications; the internet revolution rewired every industry. Each era demanded national resolve — and rewarded it.
Today, nations worldwide are investing in dual-use technologies, those that serve both civilian and defense needs. A quantum computer that unlocks new materials could also crack encryption. A bioengineering platform built to cure disease might counter biological threats. The strength of dual-use technology lies in this fusion if we harness it.
Procurement reform: The 2025 breakpoint for defense innovation
For decades, U.S. defense procurement favored large contractors and slow, rigid cycles. That system often discouraged risk and delayed the adoption of commercial innovation. In 2025, that changed.
A new executive order directed the Department of Defense to prioritize commercial solutions and use flexible contracting tools like Other Transactions Authority and the Adaptive Acquisition Framework. Additional actions are streamlining the Federal Acquisition Regulation to reduce unnecessary red tape and make it easier for startups and nontraditional firms to work with the government.
This shift is not about bypassing oversight — it’s about aligning procurement with purpose. The faster we adapt, the more lifesaving, security strengthening and economy boosting innovations we deploy.
Utah at the forefront: Connecting education, industry and community growth
In Utah, this national transformation is already underway.
Nearly every major university and college in the state — University of Utah, Utah State, BYU, Weber State and technical colleges — is investing in quantum research, space systems, bioengineering, autonomy and advanced materials. These institutions don’t operate in isolation — they partner with local firms, co-sponsor research and spin technologies into commercial ventures. In Utah, the lab bench and the startup garage are connected.
The impact is measurable. Communities with deep-tech clusters enjoy higher wages, stronger tax bases and greater economic stability. Industries like aerospace, defense and advanced manufacturing offer salaries well above state averages. These jobs don’t just provide paychecks — they also support schools, housing, infrastructure and community pride. When you have real engineering firms and cutting-edge R&D, you don’t just get jobs — you retain talent, attract investment and build lasting prosperity.
A patriotic imperative and Utah’s charge to act
This is bigger than regional success. Deep tech is a national imperative. Whoever leads in quantum, biotech, resilient space systems and advanced defense technology will set the terms of global security and progress.
But ambition without action is wasted. The procurement reforms of 2025 are powerful only if states, institutions and citizens act. This means:
- Policymakers must align incentives, infrastructure and regulation to support deep-tech growth.
- Universities must invest in interdisciplinary training and accelerate commercialization.
- Economic leaders must court dual-use firms and build bridges to NASA, DoD, NIH and DARPA.
- Communities must invest in broadband, resilient power, industrial space and innovation hubs.
These conversations will converge in Salt Lake City at the Zero Gravity Summit — where defense innovators, technologists, investors and policymakers are not just discussing the future of deep tech; they’re shaping it. From AI-enabled defense to space infrastructure and energy resilience, this is where strategy meets reality.
I write this from Utah, a land of faith, grit and wide-open horizons. But my hope stretches beyond our mountains. America can lead again — not by legacy, but by leap. Let us accelerate, innovate and anchor our future in freedom, ingenuity and resolve.
And when the next moon landing, quantum breakthrough or medical revolution arrives, the world should say: America built it in Utah.