Voyager and UConn agree partnership to link academic research with space economy innovation
Voyager Technologies and the University of Connecticut have signed a new agreement to collaborate on research, commercialization, and workforce development as space-linked technologies increasingly intersect with higher education and advanced skills training.
Voyager Technologies and University of Connecticut have signed a memorandum of understanding to collaborate on academic research, startup development, and technology commercialization, with plans to establish a regional hub linked to Voyager’s VISTA initiative.
The partnership reflects growing efforts to connect university-led research with emerging space economy skills, advanced manufacturing, and applied science pathways.
Research collaboration tied to space and advanced technologies
Under the agreement, Voyager and UConn will pursue joint activity across research and innovation areas including metamaterials, microgravity, and quantum technologies. The partnership is also intended to support the expansion of the Voyager Institute for Science, Technology and Advancement (VISTA), which is focused on accelerating in-space research, manufacturing, and services.
Jeffrey Manber, special representative to the chairman and CEO at Voyager, says, “VISTA is designed to accelerate in-space research, manufacturing and services as the space economy scales. The University of Connecticut adds regionally distinct strengths, from quantum technologies to biopharmaceuticals, that expand our national ecosystem and accelerate the pathway from ground-based innovation to space.”
UConn’s involvement centers on translating academic research into deployable technologies while supporting workforce development aligned with aerospace and defense needs. The university has an established focus on materials science and advanced manufacturing, including research into technologies designed to operate in extreme environments.
Radenka Maric, president of UConn, says, “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. 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.”
Expanding the VISTA network
The UConn partnership builds on Voyager’s previously announced collaboration with the University of North Dakota and is intended to complement the anchor VISTA hub at Ohio State University. Voyager says the broader VISTA network is designed to connect regional centers of expertise into a coordinated national ecosystem.
The company expects the initiative to expand through additional university hubs, with a focus on strengthening the U.S. industrial base and supporting dual-use technologies across civil, commercial, and national security applications.
ETIH Innovation Awards 2026
Entries are now open for the ETIH Innovation Awards 2026, recognizing education technology companies and programs working across AI, workforce development, and digital learning. The awards are open to organizations in the UK, the Americas, and internationally, with entries assessed on evidence of impact across K–12, higher education, and lifelong learning.
