Washington State University is hosting the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Forward Conference on the WSU Pullman campus on Sept. 13–14. Registration to attend in person will close at 5 p.m. EST on Friday, Sept. 2.
DARPA is taking national security innovation on the road this fall with six events held at leading research and development universities nationwide. The DARPA Forward Conference will connect DARPA leaders with new communities of talent and partnerships to energize regional and national innovation, fuel breakthroughs in national security, and help deliver the U.S. technological advantage.
“As a leader in national security research, it’s exciting for WSU to host the DARPA Forward Conference on our Pullman campus. The two‑day conference will bring together senior defense leaders, world-renowned researchers, and accomplished innovators to learn more about what is happening in both research and innovation for our nation’s security,” said Chris Keane, vice president for research at WSU and vice chancellor for research at WSU Pullman.
Held as a hybrid in‑person and virtual event, the conference will feature keynote speakers, poster sessions, panels, plenary sessions, networking roundtables, lightning talks, and program demonstrations. A wide range of topics will be discussed, including using data to maintain vigilance, resilient power grids, quantum computing, optimizing performance related to sleep patterns, hardening supply chain networks for the future, and autonomous vehicle enhancements. Deadline for virtual registration is Sept. 6, a few days after the in‑person registration deadline.
Throughout its more than 60‑year history, DARPA has challenged researchers from across academia, industry, and government to create transformative solutions to national security problems. Many of these solutions also have benefited daily civilian life.
DARPA was established in 1958 to facilitate research in technology with potential military applications. Unlike other Department of Defense organizations, DARPA does not have its own laboratories or research facilities. Instead of hiring a large, permanent staff, DARPA awards short contracts to leading scientists that will direct research as project managers. These project managers, in turn, are given significant freedom to fund research that they believe will benefit the military.
Registration information and a full schedule of events can be found at the conference website.
