Representatives from ISSP UL’s Materize platform, Ainārs Knoks and Olga Bogdanova, took part in the largest military exhibition, AUSA, held in Washington, D.C., from October 14 to October 16. Just two days prior, on October 12, Olga Bogdanova, the sales manager at Materize, met with officials from the Pentagon and the White House.
The AUSA exhibition showcased cutting-edge military technologies and products, featuring a diverse range of participants, from small contractors to major companies like Axon, Amazon, and Lockheed Martin. Events like these are invaluable for connecting with industry experts and discussing the latest advancements, challenges, and potential solutions in military technology. During the exhibition, opportunities for collaboration were identified with companies such as the Korean battery maker, Radar Solutions (Aerostar), Edge Autonomy, Honeywell, and ChemLight, among others. Emphasizing specific applications in research is crucial, especially for long-term collaborations with the U.S. Army or the Department of Defense. Notably, Honeywell and ChemLight showed promise for viable partnerships that ISSP UL should explore further.
On October 13, Ainārs and Olga enjoyed lunch with a representative from Georgetown University to discuss potential collaborative projects. Earlier in their trip, they had a productive dinner with a former collaborator from a NATO project, where they expressed mutual interest in future cooperation and agreed to seek specific project opportunities.
Additionally, Ainārs and Olga participated in a drone symposium organized by the Latvian Chamber of Commerce at the Latvian embassy in the U.S. During the event, they engaged in discussions about hydrogen technology presented by Maciuba Consulting LLC. They also had the opportunity to meet with military personnel and industry representatives from both the U.S. and Latvia. The participants were receptive to collaboration, presenting a chance for ISSP UL to form consortia with some of them. This could enable ISSP UL to participate in next year’s EDF call or NATO projects.
The Association of the United States Army’s Annual Meeting is North America’s largest land power exposition and professional development forum. Over three days, the event highlights the Army’s capabilities while showcasing a wide range of industry products and services. AUSA provides informative presentations on the State of the Army, panel discussions on relevant military and national security topics, and numerous networking opportunities for attendees.
Read more about the AUSA Annual Meeting here.
