PRESS RELEASE: MONTANA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE LEADS DESIGNATION OF THE HEADWATERS TECHNOLOGY HUB FOR SMART PHOTONICS SENSING

HELENA, Mont. — Today marks a significant milestone for the state of Montana and our region as the U.S. Department of Commerce and the U.S. Economic Development Administration have Designated the Headwaters Technology Hub as a rural Regional Technology and Innovation Hub, one of 31 total designations and a Strategic Planning Grant to prepare for Phase 2 implementation for smart photonic sensing systems that can be deployed in autonomous systems and applied to critical defense, resource management, and disaster prevention applications. Only those hubs receiving designation can apply for Phase 2 funding which could be $500+ million to the hub over the next decade.

The Headwaters Consortium is a unified, collaborative effort comprised of start-ups/entrepreneurs, industry leaders, state, local and Tribal government entities, economic development organizations, and multiple academic partners centered on centers of excellence in optics, photonics and quantum technologies.