Center for Innovation named ‘University Center’ to launch commercialization of autonomous systems

The University of North Dakota will use $100,000 from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) to launch a new University Center for Autonomous Systems Innovation in the school’s Center for Innovation, according to the center’s director.

“This funding helps the Center for Innovation springboard UAS commercialization efforts at UND and in Grand Forks,” Amy Whitney, director for the Center for Innovation, said. “We are excited to build on the foundation of excellent work already happening, and look forward to partnering with autonomous systems industry leaders in the region to ensure North Dakota’s leadership in the UAS industry.”

The grant funds the first year of the five-year University Center program. Matching funds of $100,000 also have been made available by the North Dakota Department of Commerce.

“We are very excited about this great news,” said Dale Morrison, chairman of the Center for Innovation Foundation. “This grant gives us the opportunity to continue to build on the Center’s leadership in supporting the emerging UAS industry cluster in North Dakota.”

UND was among 20 universities in 13 states selected by the EDA for the University Center funding. The University Centers focus efforts on assisting local governments and nonprofit organizations in planning and implementing regional economic development strategies and projects, according to the EDA.

“The Center for Innovation has a long history of nurturing success by providing a first home for some of the nation’s most innovative UAS startup businesses,” said UND Provost Tom DiLorenzo. “Now, by establishing the new University Center, UND is taking a major step forward in our support of our students and their engagement with the growing unmanned systems industry in our backyard and beyond.”

UND, with its premier John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences and the Research Institute for Autonomous Systems, is considered a pioneer in the realm of UAS innovation. With its new University Center, the UND Center for Innovation will continue to add to that legacy of excellence.

UND is nestled in the heart of a robust UAS industry cluster, surrounded by small startups, established heavyweights, such as Northrup Grumman, General Atomics and Harris Corp., all with strong connections to the nearby FAA UAS Test Site, Grand Forks Air Force Base and Grand Sky, a new drone business park adjacent to the air base.

Unmanned and autonomous systems development also is major component of UND’s Grand Challenges initiative to help solve regional and national problems through research and to diversify the economy of North Dakota along the way.

UND, through its research, has become a world leader in UAS innovation with cutting-edge efforts in Detect-and-Avoid and Beyond the Line of Sight technologies and the integration of drones into civilian airspace.

“This is a fantastic development for our students, the Center for Innovation and the University,” said President Mark Kennedy, about the EDA funding and proposed University Center at UND. “I want to commend Center for Innovation Director Amy Whitney for her outstanding leadership in helping to bring this proposal closer to reality. This is exactly the kind of effort that makes UND the chief opportunity engine for our students and the economy of the state.”