Headwaters Tech Hub
In 2024, the MFCES partnered with The Headwaters Tech Hub to successfully land a major award from the Economic Development Authority, in a multi-institutional mission designed to stimulate technological innovation and economic opportunity here in Montana. The role of MFCES is to provide a “rugged terrain” test bed at Lubrecht Forest to support research and development, workforce training, and venture studios to launch new firms focused on smart, autonomous photonic sensing technologies. This initiative targets critical needs in defense, resource management, and disaster prevention that align with the MFCES mission.
The initiative also strengthens ties with the University of Montana’s Autonomous Aerial Systems Office (AASO), which was included in the Tech Hub agreement. With FAA authorization to operate over much of Lubrecht, the AASO is expanding its presence at both Lubrecht and Bandy Ranch. Upcoming plans include high-resolution imaging of the entire Lubrecht Experimental Forest. These efforts will add valuable new data layers to MFCES’s GIS resources and create new opportunities for research partnerships and fee-for-service offerings for external researchers and educators.
For more information, visit Montana Headwaters Tech Hub and the Autonomous Aerial Systems Office.