FYI,

"Eighth Continent Project to Integrate Space Business into Global
Economy"
Colorado School of Mines Press Release
http://www.mines.edu/all_about/public/eighth_continent.html

: The Eighth Continent Project, the world's most comprehensive
: program to integrate space technology and resources into the global
: economy, was launched here today at the Colorado School of Mines
: Center for Space Resources.

: "For the first time, government, industry and academia have joined
: forces with entrepreneurs and venture capitalists to forge the next
: frontier in commercializing space technology and resources," said
: Colorado Governor Bill Ritter. "With our region's unique cluster of
: businesses, IT infrastructure, research institutions and aerospace
: workforce, the Eighth Continent Project will position Colorado at
: the vortex of `Space 2.0.'"

: "'Space 1.0' was astronauts, rocket ships and billion-dollar
: government projects. `Space 2.0' is venture-backed entrepreneurs
: starting new companies with new technologies," said Burke Fort,
: Eighth Continent Project director. "Eighth Continent will bridge
: the gap between existing technologies and their commercialization
: through the industry's first research hub, incubator, venture fund
: and international chamber of commerce."

: Initial founding partners and sponsors include: DigitalGlobe, the
: Keiretsu Forum, CTEK, Broadreach, the Governor's Office of Economic
: Development, Townsend & Townsend & Crew, the Colorado School of
: Mines, and the University of Colorado Leeds School of Business
: Deming Center.

: "DigitalGlobe was one of the world's first `Space 2.0' companies
: that now provides spatial content to thousands of businesses and
: mass consumer markets," said Chuck Herring, director of corporate
: communications for DigitalGlobe. "With the Eighth Continent
: Project, the time has come to bring space down to earth, and to
: incubate and fund the industries of the future."

: "Angel investors around the world are sharing ideas and content,
: and we're always looking for dealflow into new markets," said Steve
: Murchie, Denver chapter president of the Keiretsu Forum, one of the
: largest angel investor networks in the world. "Space commerce, once
: the realm of big government, is now being driven by entrepreneurs.
: We want to help the market define new valuation criteria, develop
: dealflow pipelines, and bring new technology to the marketplace
: through Eighth Continent."

: "More entrepreneurs are getting involved and taking risks in space
: commerce," said Darin Gibby, managing partner of the Denver office
: of the intellectual property law firm Townsend and Townsend and
: Crew. "As with any industry that evolves and matures, the level of
: legal protection for intellectual property increases as well. We
: see the Eighth Continent Project as a prime driver of a dynamic,
: new marketplace that will require innovative legal solutions."

: "The immediate terrestrial application of space technologies, and
: their longer-term space applications, can make for a compelling
: long-term investment with short-term and significant revenue
: streams," said Gary Held, CTEK president. "The Eighth Continent
: Project is a 'first of its kind' and CTEK is thrilled to be a
: founding partner and to bring our angel and venture investing,
: technology transfer, and incubator experience to bear."

: "With our workforce, research community and entrepreneurial
: culture, we believe Colorado can be the next Silicon Valley of
: space commerce," said Dr. Angel Abbud-Madrid, director of the
: Colorado School of Mines Center for Space Resources, where Eighth
: Continent will be headquartered. "With our expertise in mining,
: renewable energy, engineering, math, computer sciences, robotics,
: and materials research, it makes sense to base our efforts at the
: School of Mines."

: "With entrepreneurs like Elon Musk, Paul Allen and Richard Branson
: now doing what only NASA would dare, it's time for the "Web 2.0"
: entrepreneurial community to start defining and driving "Space
: 2.0," said Fort.

: About the Eighth Continent

: Based out of Golden, Colorado, the Colorado School of Mines' Eighth
: Continent Project is the world's most comprehensive effort to
: integrate space technology and resources into the global economy.
: Eighth Continent provides the infrastructure and resources to solve
: a wide range of challenges from global warming to renewable energy
: development. Located in Colorado, home of the most concentrated
: entrepreneurial, investor and aerospace talent in the world, Eighth
: Continent brings space down to earth with the industry's first
: trade association, incubator, venture fund and research hub, all
: working together to develop the next generation of space business
: ventures.

: Founded in 1874, Colorado School of Mines was established to serve
: the needs of the local mining industry. Today, the School has an
: international reputation for excellence in both engineering
: education and the applied sciences with special expertise in the
: development and stewardship of the Earth's resources.

Mark Reiff