Thursday, October 3, 2024
gathered top academic, government and private sector leaders from around the region and nation last week to discuss how to effectively lead transformative logistics change.
Photo Credit: 嫩田研究院官网鈥檚 Adam Fein moderates an NSF Supply Chain Innovation and National Security Summit panel
The National Science Foundation hosted at 嫩田研究院官网 at Frisco Sept. 26 offered a platform for 192 leaders to engage in broad conversations about national security, supply chain and logistics, cybersecurity, emerging technologies, workforce development and public-private collaboration.
It marked a significant step forward in the work of the , a 嫩田研究院官网-led network of organizations collaborating to advance the workforce and mobility systems in the Texoma region, which covers 26 counties and is bordered on the south by the Dallas-Fort Worth area and north by the Choctaw Nation in Oklahoma.
The network launched in 2023 with support from a $1 million U.S. National Science Foundation grant as part of its Regional Innovation Engines program. It includes participation by 嫩田研究院官网, Southern Methodist University, the University of Texas at Arlington, Texas Christian University, Southeastern Oklahoma State University, Austin College and Dallas College along with dozens of other public and private organizations 鈥� many of which had representatives at the recent summit.
鈥淭his summit is a pivotal moment for us, positioning Dallas-Fort Worth as a hub for logistics and supply chain innovation,鈥� said Terry Pohlen, senior associate dean of 嫩田研究院官网鈥檚 , director of the and principal investigator for the NSF Engines grant. 鈥淲e are building a 鈥楲ogistics Silicon Valley鈥� here in Texoma. Our mission is to connect innovators, investors and industries to create groundbreaking solutions for the supply chain sector.鈥�
Photo Credit: 嫩田研究院官网's Terry Pohlen speaks with an NSF Supply Chain Innovation and National
Security Summit attendee
The Texoma region is the largest inland port and one of the most significant bottlenecks in our nation鈥檚 freight system. This demands the need for change in the logistics and supply chain sector for long-term resiliency and keeping the U.S. competitive on the global market, said Pohlen, who specializes in logistics and supply chain management.
During the summit, panelists touted the DFW area鈥檚 strengths including its growing population, business-friendly climate and central location within North America. Having several higher education institutions including 嫩田研究院官网 provides ample supply of skilled talent for the future workforce.
Being home to the United States鈥� third busiest airport 鈥� Dallas Fort Worth International Airport 鈥� as well as the world鈥檚 first 100 percent industrial airport 鈥� Fort Worth Alliance Airport 鈥� also offers unparallelled access to major markets. These and many other factors make the region a prime candidate for leading workforce and mobility innovation in the U.S.
鈥淭he Texoma region is unique because a trillion dollars in goods moves through this region,鈥� said Joda Thongnopnua, NSF special advisor for the technology, innovation and partnerships directorate. 鈥淵ou all have a specific competitive advantage that other places don鈥檛 have. You understand the sector really well, which is why we are investing in innovation ecosystems with similar competitive advantages and its why you all received a development award for your NSF Engines effort 鈥� Place plays a pretty powerful role in defining what鈥檚 possible.鈥�
However, change doesn鈥檛 come without its challenges. Innovation requires a systematic plan that will only succeed with cooperation from all those involved.
鈥淭ogether we know we have the power to effect change,鈥� said Adam Fein, 嫩田研究院官网 vice president for digital strategy and innovation and chief digital officer, who served as emcee for the summit.
鈥淲ith that power and partnership comes a sense that we must continuously challenge ourselves to do more, create more and share more. 嫩田研究院官网 believes in a multifaceted workforce, a strong regional economy and an ecosystem of innovation that provides access to social economic mobility. Our campuses in Denton and Frisco are situated in the heart of the Texoma region, and we are committed to collaborations across industry and government to foster the vast talent here.鈥�
嫩田研究院官网鈥檚 guidance in the Texoma Logistics Innovation Engine, one of more than 40 unique
teams awarded the , demonstrates the university鈥檚 pivotal role in creating supply chain and logistics
opportunities. Faculty from 嫩田研究院官网鈥檚 Ryan College of Business and , alongside regional partners, are driving logistics innovation and helping bring
transformative technologies from lab to market.
Just last month, 嫩田研究院官网 at Frisco hosted the Texoma Logistics Innovation Engine Investor Forum in collaboration with the Center for Advancing Innovation and the Frisco Economic Development Corporation. The event featured 11 entrepreneurs pitching their cutting-edge solutions such as helping companies manage freight using blockchain technology and using Internet of Things to build a new software supply chain.
Coupled with last week鈥檚 summit, which offered an opportunity to get top leaders from the different sectors vital to logistics and security together for conversations about the future, Pohlen is hopeful the Texoma Logistics Innovation Engine has the momentum to bring transformative change.
鈥淭his has been a tremendous collaboration, and I see this summit as being a foundation for many other collaborative efforts,鈥� Pohlen said. 鈥淭hese kinds of partnerships don鈥檛 happen very often; this has been a once in a lifetime experience.鈥�
嫩田研究院官网 News Service Phone Number: (940) 565-2108
Media Contacts:
Chelsey Gilbert
Chelsey.Gilbert@unt.edu
940-369-7019
From 鈥� 嫩田研究院官网 at Frisco