ROME, N.Y. — The Upstate Defense Initiative — a collaboration launched this year between Empire State Development’s Division of Science, Technology and Innovation (NYSTAR), FuzeHub, CenterState CEO, the Griffiss Institute, and Syracuse University’s Institute for Veterans and Military Families — hosted its first event on Aug. 15 at the Innovare Advancement Center at the Griffiss Institute.
The 2024 Microelectronics Forum brought together experts, executives, and entrepreneurs to share industry insights, explore funding opportunities, and create collaborations to strengthen the industry.
“Following the 2024 Microelectronics Forum, the Upstate Defense Initiative is clearly off to a very strong start,” NYSTAR Executive Director Ben Verschueren said in a news release about the event. “Bringing together several innovative and influential partners, the Upstate Defense Initiative is now actively working to increase the competitiveness of New York state manufacturers and grow industries that are critical to our nation’s defense.”
More than 100 industry leaders and stakeholders from around the state participated in the forum.
“The Upstate Defense Initiative’s Microelectronics Forum provided an opportunity to convene leaders and advance our important work for New York state’s microelectronics and semiconductor industries,” FuzeHub Executive Director Elana Garuc said. “The forum led to wide-ranging discussions that explored workforce-development opportunities, supply-chain resiliency, and catalysts for innovation.”
Speakers at the event included CenterState CEO President/CEO Robert Simpson and Hiwot Gebremariam, program activity lead for the Defense Manufacturing Community Support Program, Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation, U.S. Department of Defense. There were also panel discussions featuring leaders from Empire State Development, Micron Technology, and NY CREATES.
“It sparked important conversations that will lead to new collaborations and projects focused on translating growth in this sector into high-quality jobs for our residents,” Simpson said of the event.
Designed to increase the competitiveness of the state’s manufacturing companies and grow industries critical to national defense, the Upstate Defense Initiative works to support workforce development, bolster supply chains, and cultivate innovation and entrepreneurship. The Department of Defense Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation funds the initiative.