Montana Photonics & Quantum Alliance

🌟 Exciting News! 🌟 I'm proud to share that Lumibird has signed an agreement to acquire the Continuum product range from the Amplitude Laser Group! This strategic acquisition is a significant step forward in aligning our product portfolio synergies and enhancing our market presence. By integrating Continuum’s renowned laser technology with Lumibird’s existing offerings, we’re poised to deliver even more innovative solutions to our customers. This acquisition allows us to: 🔹 Expand our market reach into new sectors and regions. 🔹 Strengthen our product portfolio with complementary technologies, maximizing performance across applications. 🔹 Enhance the customer experience by offering a broader range of laser solutions. 🔹 Drive growth through innovation, providing exciting opportunities for development in both established and emerging markets. I’m excited about the growth potential this acquisition represents, and I look forward to seeing the positive impact it will have for our team, customers, and the industry at large. #Innovation #Growth #Acquisition #Lumibird #LaserTechnology #CustomerExcellence

This afternoon, Montana State Workforce Innovation Board (SWIB) Chair Paul Hopfauf and fellow board member Jason Yager will be speaking with a group of government officials and higher education professionals from Vietnam in the Montana State Capital Building. This is a wonderful opportunity for Montana to discuss their collaborative efforts with industry leaders, labor representatives, the public sector, and other partners to promote ongoing economic success throughout Montana with this group of government officials and higher education professionals from Vietnam. This opportunity was made possible through the U.S. Department of State’s Community College Administrator Program, the Montana Department of Labor & Industry, and The Maureen and Mike Mansfield Center at the University of Montana. #Mtbiz,#workforce, #innovation, #advancemanufacuting, #semiconductors

On Monday, we had a fantastic visit with VACOM; throughout this visit, all participants had the opportunity to learn something new. Strong working relationships within the quantum and photonics community are a key advantage for Montana, and Monday was an excellent example of this with Quantum Coax, Montana Instruments, PHIX Photonics Assembly, the Innovation Campus, MSU QCORE, and the Montana Microfabrication Facility all being a part of this visit. Thank you for everyone that joined.

PHIX is proud to provide free packaging and assembly services to the winner of PhotonDelta's Global Photonics Engineering Contest and take a seat in the jury. We're eager to support your breakthrough #innovation that pushes the boundaries of photonic integrated circuit (PIC) technology to tackle complex engineering and societal challenges! ➤ How to enter: https://lnkd.in/eAbsu4EV #engineeringchallenge #photonics #chiptechnology

Earlier this month, Jason Yager, the executive director of MPQA, helped organize a panel of speakers for the Montana Afterschool Alliance Statewide Call, which focused on the advanced manufacturing and computing workforce. The panel featured Dani Buehler from Accelerate Montana, who shared exciting news about the new Rapid Development Electro-Optic Assembly Technician program, set to launch this November. Suzi Taylor from Montana State University-Bozeman discussed the importance of STEM education and the development of the Montana Quantum community. Tim VanReken celebrated the recent $41 million award from the EDA through the Tech Hub Program, which is focused on advanced photonics sensors used in real-world applications such as forestry and agriculture. Thank you to the Montana Afterschool Alliance for the opportunity to discuss the promising STEM careers that are paving the way for the future of Montana. In case you missed it, here is the link to the YouTube video, where you can learn more about Photonics and Quantum! https://lnkd.in/g3adtt5y

Floating Island International, Inc., a client of the eidotech project and based out of Shepard, MT, published an article in The Hill. This article discussed the urgency of addressing aquatic methane emissions from aquatic sources. The floating island solutions that they specialize in works to help this impact. The floating islands simultaneously clean waterways and improve water quality. Cutting methane emissions, particularly from aquatic sources, could lead to a significant drop in atmospheric methane within a decade, helping prevent climate tipping points, and the floating islands from Floating Island can help do that. Methane detection and measurement presents a new, disruptive market for LiDAR and other remote sensing solutions. 

Today, DoD and SBA announced 13 new critical technology funds, representing $2.8B in planned capital investment across the 14 critical technology areas and supply chains. Only 13 months after rolling out the joint initiative, these investors plan to invest in over 1,000 companies over the life of their funds. https://lnkd.in/gXFXRHrh

On October 10th, MPQA co-hosted the 30th Annual OpTeC Conference. This conference was a great success, with many reasons to celebrate. The evening exhibition at the MPQA networking social was sold out, and attendance was the highest in the conference's history! The industry session focused on workforce development, with keynote speakers from across the nation. Two Montana Optical Innovator Awards were also presented during this event. The first award was presented to former MPQA president Trenton Berg - “In recognition of your leadership in establishing the Gallatin College Laser & Photonics Technician AAS Degree, leading the Montana Photonics Industry Alliance, and helping to found one of Montana's most successful Photonics Companies.” The second award was given to former Spectrum Lab Director Dr. Randy Babbit. “In recognition of leading Spectrum Lab, a vital element of the Montana photonics research and education community that has helped create multiple Montana Photonics Companies.” The 30th Annual OpTeC conference was a huge success, and we thank everyone in attendance! Share below, what was your favorite part of the conference?

Trenton Berg, the Senior Manager of Lidar Integration and Test Engineering at Aurora, an MPQA member, was interviewed by the Montana Frontier Institute. The Montana Photonics Industry has grown significantly over the past decade, and Aurora, an autonomous vehicle company, has been a leading company in that growth. The interview highlights Aurora's technology, the growth of Montana's Photonics Industry, and Aurora's impact on the region. Check out the article at the link attached! https://lnkd.in/g_SmQqVu

The event of the year from MPQA member Scaling Montana is almost here! The Scaling Montana Summit 2024 will be held October 23-24 at the Kimpton Armory in Bozeman. This event includes over 20 workshops covering a wide range of topics, including product development, design, leadership, sales strategies and marketing, and investment readiness. It offers a cost-effective opportunity for startups to uplevel and gain important knowledge and connections to help them succeed. Why Startups and Innovators Should Attend the Scaling MT Summit: Hands-on Learning: Take part in a lineup of workshops and masterclasses led by industry experts, covering product development, design, marketing strategies, leadership, and investment readiness. This is the most cost-effective way to learn from experienced founders and mentors on how to build a stronger company. Stronger MT Hack: Join the inaugural First Interstate Bank Stronger MT Hack – a 30-hour hackathon where you can collaborate, innovate, and compete for $15K in cash prizes. Networking Opportunities: Connect with investors, industry peers, and thought leaders in tech and business, giving you the chance to meet potential partners, mentors, and collaborators to grow your company. Save! Use code FRIENDSOFSMT for $40 off registration. Don’t miss out on the ultimate event for launching, scaling, and investing in Montana’s technologies! Here is the link to register for the Scaling Montana Summit 2024: https://lnkd.in/gJ-djS66