Arizona’s involvement in national security technology advanced as eight research and development projects at multiple universities received grants of $90,000 each. The projects, which focus on areas such as explainable AI and encryption in signal-jammed environments, are intended to support developments in both national defense and commercial applications. According to ABC15, the initiatives involve Arizona State University, Northern Arizona University, and the University of Arizona.
Partnerships like the one between the Arizona Board of Regents and the Arizona Office of Defense Innovation are helping create support for technologies that can be used for both defense and commercial purposes, as reported by the Arizona Commerce Authority. Teams getting these grants will receive funding, guidance, business training, and a chance for more support through a Phase II program. Sandra Watson, President and CEO of the Arizona Commerce Authority, said these efforts help advance research and strengthen Arizona’s role in defense and technology.
As per the Arizona Commerce Authority, among the funded projects, Arizona State University’s “Teuvonet” is developing an explainable AI model for national defense, while Northern Arizona University is improving the cybersecurity of unmanned aircraft systems. Doug Goodyear, chair of the Arizona Board of Regents, told the Business Journal that Arizona’s universities are creating technologies that benefit both national defense and commercial use. Drew Trojanowski, CEO of the Southwest Mission Acceleration Center, told the Arizona Commerce Authority that the program helps move research quickly from the lab to the market…