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Innovation Through Education
The Smart Photonics Education for Economic Development (SPEED) project is helping to create a new undergraduate optics and photonics engineering degree by hiring new faculty and establishing a photonic sensor system metrology laboratory at Montana State University for training students and industry professionals in the engineering, calibration, and deployment of photonic remote sensing systems.
MSU’s PhD and MS graduates have driven the creation of the Montana photonics industry, and this new program fills a critical gap by training undergraduate engineers to serve as a core workforce in the companies that produce photonic systems and components.
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@HeadwatersTechHub
2026 Headwaters Tech Hub Summit
Save the Date
September 9-11th | Missoula, MT
Join us in Missoula September 9-11, 2026 for our annual Summit where we convene leaders from industry, higher education, economic development, nonprofit and government sectors to foster collaboration, spark innovation, and strengthen Montana’s tech ecosystem.