UND hosting AI and Autonomy Summit on Sept. 10

Summit seeks to spark partnerships, shape national policies around AI and its use in various industries

On Sept. 10, UND will host the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers’ Innovation, Workforce and Research Conference at the Memorial Union for a daylong AI and Autonomy Summit.

The summit will bring innovators together from government, industry and academia to define the future of AI and its role in aerospace, agriculture and defense.

With UND’s leadership in aerospace and unmanned systems research, paired with the presence of the Grand Sky UAS business park, the region offers a unique convergence of academic excellence, industry momentum and military infrastructure, observers say. The summit will spotlight how such assets are driving breakthroughs in autonomy across sectors.

Mark Askelson, associate vice president for Research & National Security, said the summit creates a space to foster collaboration and economic growth.

“By bringing together stakeholders from government, industry and academia, this summit will spark new partnerships, shape national policy and prepare the workforce for an AI- and autonomy-driven future,” Askelson said. “From defense to manufacturing, the technologies discussed here will define the next decade of innovation.”

The summit agenda features keynotes from leaders in defense, academia and industry, including representatives from the Department of Defense, Northrop Grumman, Grand Sky and AFRL Regional Network-Midwest. Attendees will engage in breakout sessions on air, ground and space autonomy, counter-autonomy strategies and the intersection of autonomous technology and manufacturing.

Additional panels will explore workforce development, education and policy, with voices from tribal colleges, state agencies and private sector innovators.

Tickets and registration are still open and will be through Saturday, Sept. 6.

Written by Cornnor Murphy  //  UND Today