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Old Heat CERB Feasibility Study | 41 <br />• Regional Fit: CWU’s applied engineering, computer science, and physics <br />programs provide a talent base for aerospace-adjacent firms. Bowers Field <br />expansion facilities offer future production and testing capacity. <br />• On-Ramp/Launch Pad Role: Old Heat provides a cost-effective test <br />environment for early-stage suppliers. Firms can prototype at Old Heat, <br />recruit interns, and then scale into larger facilities at Bowers Field. <br />• Tech Diffusion: ACTI could deliver AI, robotics, and simulation workshops <br />that support aerospace suppliers in transitioning to digital manufacturing <br />and advanced design processes. <br />2. AGRICULTURAL TECHNOLOGY AND SMART EQUIPMENT <br />MANUFACTURING <br />• Rationale: Agriculture remains the region’s foundational industry, but its <br />competitiveness depends on adoption of automation, robotics, sensing, <br />and precision irrigation. The region itself becomes a natural testbed and <br />customer base for ag-tech innovation. <br />• Regional Fit: CWU’s environmental sciences, IT, and ag business <br />programs supply research and commercialization pathways. Proximity to <br />Yakima Valley processors and farms enables real-time product testing. <br />• On-Ramp/Launch Pad Role: Existing farms and equipment manufacturers <br />can “step on-ramp”through Old Heat to pilot advanced technologies, <br />while new ag-tech startups can launch into local markets before scaling <br />nationally. <br />• Tech Diffusion: ACTI’s Tech Lift Specialist program (if funded) would extend <br />Old Heat’s resources into underserved communities, providing mobile <br />technology enablement for producers and processors. <br />3. ADVANCED MATERIALS AND CLEAN TECHNOLOGY <br />• Rationale: Global shifts toward decarbonization and sustainable <br />manufacturing drive demand for new materials, composites, and clean <br />production systems. Such firms seek R&D-friendly sites that are outside <br />congested, high-cost metros. <br />• Regional Fit: CWU’s interdisciplinary STEM programs and recent National <br />Science Foundation investments position the university as a natural <br />research partner for clean-tech firms. <br />• On-Ramp/Launch Pad Role: Legacy manufacturers can access training <br />in additive manufacturing, recyclable composites, and digital Quality <br />Assurance systems, while startups can pilot clean-tech prototypes in Old <br />Heat’s innovation space. <br />• Tech Diffusion: Workforce upskilling in clean technologies ensures that <br />the region transitions from commodity-based industries to value-added <br />accelerative enterprises. <br />4. EMBEDDED SYSTEMS AND SOFTWARE FOR INDUSTRIAL <br />APPLICATIONS <br />• Rationale: As physical products integrate with digital intelligence, demand <br />for embedded software, IoT (Internet of Things), and edge computing <br />grows. These firms tend to be agile, innovation-driven, and highly scalable. <br />• Regional Fit: CWU’s computer science and IT faculty provide an ongoing <br />supply of software developers and data specialists, positioning Old Heat as <br />a training and placement hub. <br />• On-Ramp/Launch Pad Role: Regional manufacturers can adopt embedded <br />systems designed in Old Heat, while startups gain direct access to physical <br />industry partners for co-location and prototyping. <br />• Multiplier Potential: When co-located with aerospace, ag-tech, or clean- <br />tech tenants, embedded systems firms catalyze vertical integration and <br />accelerate technology spillovers.