The Keystone Space Collaborative (KSC) engaged ESI to map the upstream space supply chain across Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia. Building on KSC’s existing ecosystem map, ESI developed a structured inventory of the firms, institutions, and federal procurement activity supporting space-related production and research across the region.
The work combined industry cluster analysis, input-output modeling, federal procurement data, business data, and geospatial analysis to produce an expanded supplier inventory, updated interactive map, procurement dashboard, and landscape analysis.
ESI defined the core space economy using six NAICS codes covering space vehicle manufacturing, propulsion systems, vehicle parts, navigation and guidance instruments, satellite telecommunications, and space research and technology. IMPLAN input-output modeling identified upstream industries with strong purchasing relationships to the core cluster.
Firms were identified through USASpending.gov, Lightcast, and KSC’s existing database, then categorized by their role in the supply chain. Federal procurement analysis also examined prime and subaward activity to measure the flow of federal contract dollars into and out of the region.
The analysis identified more than 1,100 firms across the tri-state space supply chain, including core space firms and supporting suppliers spanning engineering and testing, distribution and logistics, machining and fabrication, instrumentation and electronics, and other sectors.
Federal procurement analysis identified $9.5 billion in prime obligations associated with contracts performed in the region and $12.7 billion in net regional federal investment after accounting for subaward flows.
The resulting inventory gives KSC a stronger basis for regional positioning, member recruitment, business outreach, and engagement with state and federal policymakers.
ESI delivered a Space Supply Chain Landscape Analysis, a verified inventory of over 1,100 firms, an updated Keystone Space Tri-State Ecosystem Explorer map, and a federal procurement dashboard for internal analysis and tracking. The underlying methodology provides KSC with a repeatable basis for updating the supplier inventory and monitoring changes in the regional space economy over time.
The Keystone Space Tri-State Ecosystem Explorer can be viewed at https://keystonespace.org/ecosystem/.