Published: Nov. 12, 2024 at 10:42 PM CST |Updated: 2 hours ago COLLEGE STATION, Texas (KBTX) -The Innovation Forward conference, hosted by Texas A&M University and Texas A&M Innovation, brought together top minds in technology and defense to address key challenges in artificial intelligence, energy, aerospace, and defense. Texas A&M Chancellor John Sharp said the conference aims to position the university and the region as leaders in cutting-edge innovation, with a central announcement marking a new partnership between Texas A&M and Silicon Valley’s Plug and Play. “This innovation conference is putting A&M in the forefront of all kinds of things,” said Sharp. “One of the things we’re announcing today is that Plug and Play, which is a company that in a lot of respects built Silicon Valley, is going to be here in Bryan-College Station. Texas A&M, the Economic Development Office, the city of Bryan, the city of College Station, and Texas A&M System have all invited them here, and they are really unbelievable.” Texas A&M hosts Innovation conference, announces partnership with Silicon Valley’s Plug and Play (KBTX) The partnership with Plug and Play, known for launching Silicon Valley’s top startups, will focus on establishing a tech hub in Bryan-College Station, particularly through developments at Texas A&M’s RELLIS Campus. Sharp emphasized that the collaboration will center on a Defense Aerospace cluster, which he expects will generate new tech startups directly impacting the Brazos Valley. “We expect an unbelievable number of startups,” Sharp said. “ They have tens of thousands of startups that have already been spun out of plug and play, and we expect the next batch of those to be from the Brazos Valley. Texas A&M’s RELLIS Campus will be central to the collaboration. Described by Sharp as a comprehensive test bed for advanced technology, the campus includes resources ranging from 5G and hypersonics networks to specialized wind tunnels and high-energy laser testing facilities. “We’ve got more engineers at Texas A&M than most universities have students—25,000 engineering students,” Sharp added. “For instance, the very first high-energy laser shot ever done in Texas was done three months ago at the RELLIS Campus. All of those things fit into this cluster of innovation that we’re gonna call aerospace and defense. We’ll plug into the Pentagon and all of the kinds of things that we will be working on. And you’ll see dozens, in my opinion, of startup companies that will start here and become prolific companies with the help of Plug and Play. Texas A&M hosts Innovation conference, announces partnership with Silicon Valley’s Plug and Play (KBTX) Saeed Amidi, founder and CEO of Plug and Play, expressed enthusiasm for Texas A&M’s workforce and resources. “The most exciting thing about Aggie land is the 85,000 plus engineers and students in College Station, as well as the other network of a total of 12 universities. We feel they have incredible education, and incredible work ethics, the Texas people work really hard in agriculture, in ranches, and in the oil industry, Amidi said. “We feel that hard work ethics plus all of the values that Texas A&M stands for is the fantastic basis for the future. All we need is to add a little spark of entrepreneurship and technology, especially from Silicon Valley. That’s what we do there every day. We are gonna bring some of that here.” The conference also highlighted Texas A&M’s commitment to public-private partnerships, with Sharp noting the impact on the broader Bryan-College Station economy. “Well, one of the things that, one of the things that you need to keep in mind is one of the ways people measure the health of a community, the economy of the community is whether or not the rent prices are still growing. And there are only two cities in the state of Texas where rent prices are growing. That’s Midland and that’s Bryan-College Station. And that is just, just one of the bellwethers of what’s to come from the semiconductor things to this Plug and Play innovation that’s going be happening in conjunction with technology advancements at the RELLIS Campus,” Sharp said. “I think that the Brazos Valley is on a trajectory that can be stopped and it’s going to be an amazing thing to see and watch over the next several years,” Sharp added. Former U.S. Energy Secretary and Texas Governor Rick Perry (KBTX) Former U.S. Energy Secretary and Texas Governor Rick Perry, who attended the conference as a speaker, shared insights on Texas’s role in energy and technology development. Perry praised Texas A&M’s role in preparing a highly skilled workforce and providing the resources needed for tech companies to thrive. “Public-private partnerships…are the real key to the growth that we’ve had in the state of Texas,” Perry said. “Texas A&M has been right at the tip of the spear, so to speak, from the standpoint of creating an environment where businesses and technologies…know that they can come here and find some of the brightest minds in the world to be their partners.” Former U.S. Energy Secretary and Texas Governor Rick Perry (KBTX) As a final treat for the night a drone show was held inside Kyle Field where attendees could witness cutting-edge technology take flight over Aggieland. “This electrifying drone demonstration brings innovation to life as hundreds of synchronized drones light up the sky above Kyle Field,” An A&M statement read. “Watch as they create breathtaking visuals, transforming the night with dynamic patterns, bold Texas A&M imagery, and a spectacular showcase of the power and potential of drone technology. Don’t just hear about the future—see it in action!” The Innovation Forward conference continues through Thursday ✨TEXAS A&M DRONE SHOW✨ Did you see it? It’s part of a big Innovation Conference happening this week on campus. Hundreds of drones put on a show tonight over Aggieland. Videos below 👇🏼 📸: Claire Gerke pic.twitter.com/LsTfddDxb3 — 🚨 Rusty Surette (@KBTXRusty) November 13, 2024 Copyright 2024 KBTX. All rights reserved. Most Read