Partnerships
The Northern Front Autonomous Systems Engine (NFASE) is powered by collaboration.
Our team spans North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, and Idaho, bringing together universities, tribal nations, industry, and communities to build a strong, sustainable, and technology-driven innovation ecosystem for Autonomous Systems (AS).
Our Ecosystem
NFASE leverages existing regional strengths to address critical needs in transportation, agriculture, mining, energy, health care, and national security. By linking research, workforce development, and commercialization, this ecosystem drives AS innovation from concept development and prototyping to testing, validation, and deployment.
Current Partners and Their Expertise
Our founding partners provide a broad range of expertise and capabilities, ensuring a holistic approach to advancing autonomous systems:
University of North Dakota
- Policy Development on autonomous systems
- Workforce Development
- Economic Analysis
- Autonomous System (Conceptualization, Prototyping, Testing, and Evaluation)
- Cybersecurity/Data Management
- High-Performance Computing and Simulation Modeling
- Human-Machine Teaming
- Aviation and UAS Policy and Research Development
- Rare Earth elements and Battery Innovation
- Testing and Evaluation
- Safety Management
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
- Advanced Metal Processing & Cold Spray Technologies
- Materials Science and Engineering
- Condensed Matter and Quantum Materials
- Particle Physics and Underground Experiments
Boise State University
- Advanced Sensor Design and Material Science
- Generative AI and Ethical Computing
- Bioengineering and Biomedical Imaging
- Cybersecurity and Data Science
- Quantum and Photonic Materials
- Computational Modeling and Simulation
Montana State University
- Optics and Photonics
- Quantum Advanced Applied Materials
- Cube-Satellite Platforms
- Biofilm Engineering
- System Engineering & Prototyping
- Materials Engineering and Characterization
Tribal Nations Research Group
Miltech
- Technology Transfer/Transition
- Information Research & Analysis
- Technology Scouting
- Design, Design Review and Evaluation Samples
- Manufacturing
- Process Improvement and Process Management
New Partners
State or Local Governments
- Northern Plains UAS Test Site
- Idaho Department of Commerce
- North Dakota Department of Commerce
- Impact Dakota
- Fargo Chamber of Commerce
Small Business/Startups
- Resonon
- Vision Aerial
- Grand Farm
- Vantis
- TruWeather Solutions
- Thales
- Kratos Defense
- Pitch Aeronautics
- Packet Digital
- Dakota Area Network
- PEMDAS
- Knight Moves