From Research to Orbit: Powering America’s Innovation Pipeline

Breakthrough innovation depends on collaboration across academia, government, and industry. Together, Jeanette Nuñez, President of Florida International University, Rob Long, President and CEO of Space Florida, and Reid Melville, Commercial Lead at the Air Force Research Lab, will examine how partnerships, including federal programs like STTR, are helping transition emerging technologies into real-world applications. They will explore how coordinated efforts are accelerating discovery, commercialization, and deployment. Nuñez will highlight how universities are evolving into engines of applied research and talent development. Long will share how Space Florida enables innovation to scale through infrastructure and investment. Melville will provide insight into how the Air Force Research Lab is bridging defense research with commercial pathways. Moderated by Mariana Atencio, this session explores how coordinated ecosystems, from lab to launch, are advancing U.S. leadership in space and dual-use innovation.