IEEE-USA IWRC AI & Autonomy

Where: University of North Dakota | Grand Forks, ND
When: 10 September 2025

On 10 September, the IEEE-USA Innovation, Workforce, and Research Conference (IWRC) will bring together stakeholders from industry, government, and academia in Grand Forks, North Dakota, to meet, learn, talk, and discuss federal technology initiatives and other government small business programs that promote innovation and small business in the midwest. The event is a full day Summit on Wednesday, 10 September.

This event will give you an opportunity to meet potential partners from the U.S. federal agencies and learn more about how you can contribute to the North Dakota and the midwest innovation ecosystem.

Who should attend?

Target Attendees

Industry: C-Level, VP level, engineers, legal staff, R&D, patent/small business attorneys, finance & VC

Industry - Why Attend?

Gain access to potential partners in the federal government, as well as learn about federal technology initiatives like technology transfer, AI, and SBIR.

Government officials from the Department of Defense (DOD), Department of Energy (DOE), National Science Foundation (NSF) and other agencies are coming to Portland looking for partners – like you! Learn about government programs to promote innovation and small business. Meet potential partners at Maine Universities. Learn more about the CHIPS Act and how it relates to Maine. If you think all the resources are all going to Texas and California, you are wrong.

Academia: Presidents, chancellors, tech transfer & patent offices, VPRs, researchers

Academia - Why Attend?

Gain access to federal grant program officials, information on grant processes, connections with potential business partners, and education on federal technology initiatives.

Come learn about potential government funding! Government grant officials from the Department of Defense (DOD), Department of Energy (DOE), National Science Foundation (NSF) and other agencies are coming to Maine to meet with the Maine tech sector and engineers/ entrepreneurs like you! CHIPS Act requires more resources to flow into states like Maine — government needs partners to make that happen. Learn how to partner with local small businesses.

Government: Policymakers, Federal funding program officers, economic development professionals, incentive managers, entrepreneurial support orgs

Government - Why Attend?

Access to local engineers/ entrepreneurs who are interested in learning more about federal government technology initiatives and becoming a part of the Maine innovation economy. Help you to promote government programs in the northeast while fulfilling Congressional mandates.

Venue & Preliminary Agenda

Wednesday, 10 September

Conference Venue

University of North Dakota Memorial Union

2901 University Drive
Grand Forks, ND

Wednesday, 10 September 2025

University of North Dakota Memorial Union
2901 University Drive
Grand Forks, ND

Time (CT)	Session
8:30 AM	Registration
9:00 AM	Welcome & Kickoff
9:15 AM	AI and Autonomy: North Dakota’s Next Wave of Innovation
10:00 AM	How North Dakota Can Contribute to Innovation Ecosystem
10:30 AM	Networking Break
11:00 AM	Breakout Sessions
	1) Ground and Air Autonomy
	2) Counterautonomy
	3) Space?
12:00 PM	Networking Lunch and Keynote from NATCAST
1:00 PM	Rare Earth Metals and Autonomy
1:30 PM	Breakout Sessions
	1) Education and Workforce
	2) Policy Implications
2:30 PM	Break
3:00 PM	Afternoon Speaker
4:00 PM	Wrap-Up and Adjourn

Grand Forks, ND | 10 September 2025