The state of Montana has one of the highest per capita concentrations of optics, photonics, and quantum computing companies in the U.S., including an industrial cluster with leading technologies in self-driving, drone detection and applied defense detection systems, according to the office.

San Francisco, June 22 (CNA) A delegation of representatives from Taiwan’s photonics and quantum industries recently visited Montana in the United States with the aim of strengthening bilateral cooperation in those fields, according to the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in Seattle.

The visit by the 12 representatives to Bozeman City in Montana June 19-21 preceded the SelectUSA Investment Summit from June 23-26, an annual high-profile event in the U.S. that facilitates business investment by connecting thousands of investors, companies, economic development organizations, and industry experts.

Headwaters Tech Hub

Headwaters Hub

The Headwaters Hub, led by Accelerate Montana, aims to become a global leader in smart, autonomous, photonic remote sensing technologies. This Tech Hub will leverage regional assets—including a concentration of photonics companies and its diverse geographic landscape—to integrate remote sensing systems with advances in embedded processors with built-in artificial intelligence and machine learning capabilities. In doing so, this western Montana consortium seeks to develop and deploy smart photonic sensing systems coupled with autonomous systems to address critical defense, resource management, and disaster prevention needs.

The Headwaters Hub will capitalize on the region’s existing commitment to market-driven innovation—and status as home to dozens of photonics companies—to overcome barriers to the advancement and broad adoption of autonomous technologies in critical use areas that are vital to the United States’ economic and national security.