Headwaters Hub
Lead Agency: Accelerate Montana
State Served: Montana
Applicant-Defined Region: Missoula and Bozeman MSAs, Kalispell and Butte–Silver Bow μSAs
Core Technology Area: smart photonic sensor systems
Contact: Dr. Tim VanReken ([email protected])
The Headwaters Hub, led by Accelerate Montana, aims to become a global leader in smart, autonomous, photonic remote sensing technologies. This Tech Hub will leverage regional assets—including a concentration of photonics companies and its diverse geographic landscape—to integrate remote sensing systems with advances in embedded processors with built-in artificial intelligence and machine learning capabilities. In doing so, this western Montana consortium seeks to develop and deploy smart photonic sensing systems coupled with autonomous systems to address critical defense, resource management, and disaster prevention needs.
The Headwaters Hub will capitalize on the region’s existing commitment to market-driven innovation—and status as home to dozens of photonics companies—to overcome barriers to the advancement and broad adoption of autonomous technologies in critical use areas that are vital to the United States’ economic and national security.
This consortium’s proposal includes plans to:
- Help entrepreneurs access capital, align their technology development with industry needs, and connect with potential buyers;
- Build the region’s photonics sector by increasing four-year degree opportunities in related fields, utilizing skills-based approaches to train and place workers, and extending on-ramps to Native and rural students across educational levels to access careers in the smart-sensing industry;
- Support final-stage testing of technologies by creating environmentally specific testbeds in rugged terrain, precision agriculture, and roadway settings; and
- Establish and support structured pathways for robust engagement across its network to ensure projects stay on track and augment one another by identifying best practices, adjusting course, and building on successes and lessons learned.
To ensure that the impacts of these projects benefit the entire region, components of the strategy are led by Tribal and two-year colleges, and activities include provision of robust wrap-around services.
This summary is based on information submitted by the applicants. If selected for funding, the final EDA-approved scope of work may differ.
Strategy Development Grant Amount: $449,290
Designee Narrative (PDF)
Additional Designations Earned in Region
