The University of Connecticut (UConn) is teaming up with Voyager Technologies to advance space technology research and development initiatives.
Under a memorandum of understanding, the space and defense technology company will collaborate with UConn on research and development efforts and establish a regional hub for the Voyager Institute for Science, Technology, and Advancement (VISTA), Voyager said last week.
The partnership aims to complement VISTA’s anchor hub at The Ohio State University. Initial areas of focus include metamaterials, microgravity, and quantum research tied to future access-to-space use cases, such as next-generation commercial platforms like Starlab.
“VISTA is designed to accelerate in-space research, manufacturing and services as the space economy scales,” said Jeffrey Manber, special representative to the Chairman &and CEO, Voyager. He added that UConn “adds regionally distinct strengths, from quantum technologies to biopharmaceuticals, that expand our national ecosystem and accelerate the pathway from ground-based innovation to space.”
Voyager framed UConn’s role as part of a growing national network. The agreement follows a recently announced joint investment with the University of North Dakota and is intended to connect regional centers of excellence under a shared commercialization model.
While financial terms and near-term project lists were not disclosed, Voyager described the UConn hub as a lever for dual-use technologies relevant to civil, commercial, and national security customers.
“UConn has built national distinction in materials science and advanced manufacturing, including breakthrough work in solid-state battery materials designed to perform in extreme environments such as space,” said Radenka Maric, president of UConn.
“Coupled with our long-standing partnerships across aerospace and defense, this strength positions UConn exceptionally well to partner with Voyager and help advance the technologies shaping the space economy,” Maric continued.