In Houston the sky's no longer the limit. Today, we're striving to make advances in the space program and using the innovations developed there to make huge progress toward tackling down-to-earth problems such as improved heart valves and power sources for cell phones. As home to Johnson Space Center- NASA's largest R&D facility-and some of the world's leading aerospace and aviation research and development organizations, Houston is the place where science, academia and industry come together to find new ways to take the next giant leap.

A center for industry growth
Houston is home to more than 450 companies with a connection to the space industry and more than 120 that are involved in aviation.¹ From 2009 to 2010, Houston's total trade in aircraft, spacecraft and parts grew 14% to $1.54 billion. We're the center of today's aviation and aerospace universe-and the ideal place for your company to locate or expand. With plenty of room to spread your wings.

Aerospace and Aviation in Houston
Houston's Johnson Space Center (JSC) attracts the nation's best high-tech professionals and is an aerospace hub and transfer site for NASA-developed technology.

JSC serves as the lead NASA center for the International Space Station. As of the ten year anniversary of continuous human occupation in November 2010, JSC had overseen 103 launches to the space station: 67 Russian vehicles, 34 space shuttles, one European and one Japanese vehicle.   

NASA selected Lockheed Martin Corp as the prime contractor to design, develop and build the Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle, NASA’s next generation spacecraft for future deep space exploration. Lockheed Martin facilities in Texas, Florida, California, Colorado and Louisiana helped support Orion’s design and development work.

Ellington International Airport (EFD) is a joint military and civilian airport and serves as a base of operations for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and corporate charters.

Research, Collaboration, Technology Outreach & Transfer
Houston believes in the power of collaboration and the value of effective technology transfer. We've worked to create and support alliances between NASA, local universities and research leaders, and helped drive advances across a broad range of industries.
Achievements include:

• The MicroMed DeBakey Ventricular Assist Device (VAD)-this pump allows a patient to survive until a heart donor can be found and was developed through a collaborative effort between NASA and the doctors at the DeBakey Heart Center at Baylor College of Medicine.
• Satellites, spacecraft and the Hubble telescope-work continues in these areas through a partnership with NASA and the University of Houston College of Engineering.
• Ellington International Airport-this joint military/civilian airport serves as a base of operations for NASA.

Technology outreach and transfer opportunities
Houston has a superb R&D infrastructure with a track record of successfully and profitably transferring technology developed at area research institutions to the private sector. There are dozens of proven resources that can help your organization leverage the commercial value of research advances.
For general information about Technology Transfer. Resources specifically geared to aviation/aerospace include:
NASA's Johnson Space Center
This world-renowned facility attracts the nation's best high-tech professionals and is an aerospace hub and transfer site for NASA-developed technology.

• $1.5 billion complex
• 1,620 acres-NASA's lead facility for human spaceflight 
• Manages the International Space Station
• Includes extensive control, testing and training facilities  

SATOP-Space Alliance Technology Outreach Program 

• Funded by the State of Texas
• Transfers knowledge/technology from U.S. Space program to small businesses
• Includes up to 40 hours of free assistance
• Administered by Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership (www.bayareahouston.com)

National Space Biomedical Research Institute (http://www.nsbri.org/ ) 

• Led by Baylor College of Medicine
• Consortium of academic and research facilities
• Conducts biomedical research to support human development of space and technology transfer to the private sector
• Rice University and Texas A&M University are members. University of Texas Medical Branch is an associate institution.

Houston. Your committed partner in aerospace and aviation success.  

A diverse labor pool-with an emphasis on technology
Whether you need large numbers of affordable labor or access to some of the top minds in research and development, you'll find what you're looking for in Houston.

Houston's workforce is 2.7 million people strong and highly educated-nearly 30% of the population has a college or graduate degree. Our engineering talent pool is particularly deep with numbers that greatly exceed national averages. For instance, when compared to those figures, Houston has 32% more aerospace engineers, 50% more computer hardware engineers and large numbers of electrical, electronic and mechanical engineers.

Engineering Location Quotients
Engineers have a strong presence in Houston, which has been described as "the world's leading pool of engineering talent."

• One measure of the extent of engineering in Houston is the location quotient (LQ) — the ratio of a given occupation’s share of the local labor force to its share of the national labor force. The average occupational LQ is 1.00. A location quotient greater than 1.00 means that the occupation is more strongly represented in the local than in the national labor force. (A location quotient of 1.50, for example, means that an occupation has 50 percent more than its expected share of the labor force.) 
• The LQ for all engineering occupations in Houston is 1.79, with approximately 55,500 individuals in the engineering occupations listed above. That means Houston has 79 percent more engineers than would be expected in a metropolitan area of this size. 
• LQs run as high as 18.71 for petroleum engineers. Other engineering specialties disproportionately represented in Houston include aerospace engineers (2.76), chemical engineers (4.79), civil engineers (2.06), and marine engineers (7.76). 

Houston is one of the country's youngest, most diverse and most rapidly growing metro areas. According to the Census Bureau, the region's population grew 25.2% between 1990 and 2000, nearly double the national average of 13.2%. The region has the second youngest median age in the country among large metropolitan areas-32.9-and nearly 45% of the population falls into the critical 25-54 age range.

For a complete overview of workforce statistics and labor rates please go to Workforce.

Incentives created with your needs in mind
The Houston area offers a variety of attractive state and local incentives including:

• Tax abatements on property, R&D and pollution control
• Sales tax exemptions
• Emerging technology funding
• Employee training grants
• Product development/commercialization financing
• Brownfield redevelopment assistance

Abundant, cost-effective utilities-including telecom
A deregulated energy market in the majority of Texas means a choice of retail providers and affordable rates across all utility categories. The region's commitment to developing Smart Grid technology will help reduce price volatility and improve energy management in the future, and, as home to the Johnson Space Center, thousands of multi-national companies and the world's largest medical center, the Houston area offers some of the most sophisticated and robust communications networks in the world.

A central location backed by an exceptional transportation network
Grow your business in Houston and get an excellent mid-country location that delivers outstanding access to air transport with the nation's 4th largest multi-airport system, plus a strong network of water, rail and road. Learn more about our transportation system and how it's backed by infrastructure support that's second to none.

Dedicated to environmental protection
Houston's commitment to the environment is shown in our record of supporting environmental regulations and our continuous advances and leadership over the past two decades-a rate that's especially impressive given the level of growth our area has experienced during this time.

A business-friendly tax haven-ranked #7 lowest nationally
Houston's state and local taxes are consistently below national averages, making our region an appealing place to locate or expand.

Affordable site and building costs
Commercial real estate costs are below the national average, and Houston has an ample supply of low-cost undeveloped land and established office and industrial space.

The support you need for success

Education-helping create tomorrow's workforce
Houston recognizes the critical role educational excellence plays in developing a strong workforce. We've established joint research development programs with the area's more than 42 colleges, universities and other degree-granting institutions, including aerospace and aviation powerhouses like University of Houston, Rice University and Baylor College. In aerospace alone, 57 to 113 degrees are awarded annually.

Industry networks and events
A strong, collaborative network made up of business, academia and public sector members powers the Houston aviation and aerospace communities which helps drive innovation and long-term, international success.  Learn more now about our business assistance and networking opportunities. (Link to 6.1)

The #1 Place to Live, Work and Play? Houston.²
Houston offers excellent educational and healthcare resources, affordable housing and a host of leisure options that includes everything from museums, ballet and opera to public libraries (100+), parks and pro sports. Find out for yourself why people enjoy living here.

Learn more about Aviation and Aerospace in Houston. Talk to our Aviation and Aerospace expert: Craig Rhodes
Email Craig at crhodes@houston.org