Media Archive

Join the Headwaters Tech Hub and Testbeds Project Lead Paul Lukacs as we learn about the testbeds sites and opportunities here in Montana. Innovation in Montana isn't just about what happens in a lab; it’s about what happens 3,000 feet underground in a mine tunnel or out in a 20,000-acre forest. We are excited to share a deep dive into Autonomous Smart Systems and Integrated Sensor Testbeds (ASSIST), our collaborative effort with the University of Montana, Montana State, Montana Tech, and Grand Farm. This project is built to derisk and demonstrate technologies where they actually matter—in the rugged, real-world environments that define our state.

Join us for our next webinar as we explore how the HTH ecosystem is activating the priorities of the 406 JOBS framework to build a rugged, resilient talent pipeline for our state's growing companies. We will dive into real-world progress, regional sector partnerships, and the expanding training and funding opportunities designed to empower local workers and keep Montana competing on a global stage.

Join us and Salish Kootenai College (SKC) as we learn about their innovative work advancing Tribal STEM Pathways. We aren't just talking about the future; we’re building it by connecting Tribal Colleges to high-demand career education and real-world workforce needs. Place-Based Learning: How we are bringing hands-on STEM education directly to our rural and indigenous communities. Expanding the Pipeline: A look at new teacher training, secondary school opportunities, and the certification programs making "high-tech" accessible to more Montanans. A Model for the Region: Why these pathways are a critical blueprint for supporting underserved students across the broader Northwest. When one of our communities finds a new pathway to success, the whole state feels the lift. This work is about removing the friction that keeps talented people from good-paying jobs and ensuring our tech ecosystem is as rugged and resilient as the landscape we call home.

Innovation starts with people. As Montana’s photonics and optical sensing industries continue to scale, the need for a ready, skilled workforce at all levels has never been greater. We aren’t just building technology; we are building the pathways that allow Montanans to step into high-quality, future-focused careers right here at home. Join us for a webinar featuring Katherine Booher, Director of Workforce Partnerships at Accelerate Montana to learn more about their Electro-Optics Assembly Technician training program. Katherine will share the story of how this program was born and the future of this and other workforce readiness programs for our state’s high-tech ecosystem. What we’ll explore: 1. Bridging the Gap: How we are creating a pipeline of skilled technicians to support Montana’s growing companies. 2. Removing Barriers: Ensuring that high-demand technical career pathways are accessible to more Montanans. 3. Where We Go From Here: Opportunities to continue this work in communities across that state. Whether you are an industry partner looking to grow your team or a community member interested in the future of Montana’s tech landscape, we invite you to pull up a chair and join the conversation. Together, we are cultivating the talent that keeps Montana competing on a national and global stage.

In this Aperture webinar, Sean will introduce the audience to the USPTO Northwest Frontier Community Engagement Office, located in Bozeman MT. He will cover the services the USPTO offers to support innovators who are looking to understand intellectual property and who are looking for free services in obtaining or understanding patents and trademarks. 

Summit early bird registration, Board of Governors nominations approaching, Aperture Webinar, Baseline Spatial at Lubrecht Experimental Forest.

Summit approaching, new website live, UMEC tour, Aperture Webinar series launch, and more.

Bozeman spent four decades growing its photonics scene — and that includes making it a more attractive place to live.