Utah's inaugural Hard Tech Week commenced today, October 26, 2026, in Salt Lake City, bringing together companies from the aerospace, defense, advanced manufacturing, and technology sectors. The five-day event, running through Friday, October 30, features conferences, demonstrations, facility tours, and networking opportunities for industry participants.
Central to the week's activities is the two-day Zero Gravity Summit, hosted and produced by 47G, an aerospace, defense, and national security industry association. The Summit is scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday at the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City. According to the Summit's published historical figures, the 2025 gathering attracted 2,200 attendees, 58 speakers, and 75 exhibitors.
Hard Tech Week represents a collaborative effort by 47G, Utah Tech Week, and The Nucleus Institute, combining an established industry association with organizations involved in Utah's broader technology, entrepreneurship, and innovation communities.
47G, which connects private companies with government agencies, research institutions, investors, and other industry participants, was founded in 2022 as the Utah Aerospace and Defense Association (UADA). It was rebranded as 47G in October 2023 and has since grown to over 200 partnerships spanning industry, academia, and government. The organization operates as a 501(c)(6) nonprofit.
Utah holds significant relevance in the defense and aerospace sectors, hosting major operations such as Hill Air Force Base and the Utah Test and Training Range. Numerous private companies in the state are actively developing technologies for military, space, and commercial applications. While Utah has gained national recognition for its software and financial technology companies over the past half-century, the state's longer-standing involvement in aerospace, defense, and advanced manufacturing remains a substantial source of investment, government contracts, manufacturing activity, and employment for its citizens.
Businesses in these sectors often require significant capital for research, product development, testing, and manufacturing to achieve commercial scale. Consequently, establishing and maintaining relationships with government customers, major contractors, investors, and specialized suppliers is particularly important for their growth and success.
Beyond the central Zero Gravity Summit, the broader Hard Tech Week schedule includes numerous independently organized gatherings. Among the scheduled events are The Hard Tech Week Opening Party, The New Acquisition Playbook event, The Future of Physical AI Summit 2026, The Hard Tech Networking Night, The Beehive Energy Alliance Happy Hour, The AI and the Future of Higher Education: Leadership Roundtable, and From the Space Shuttle to Mars, which features Astronaut Jeffrey Hoffman. These events cover a wide range of subjects, including defense procurement, artificial intelligence, energy, and higher education, intersecting with aerospace technologies.
For those interested in participating, the official Hard Tech Week webpage provides comprehensive event details and registration information. The week's significance is largely anchored by 47G and the Zero Gravity Summit, highlighting Utah's role in the hard tech industry.
