Montana State Builds on DARPA Partnership to Court Regional Innovators

BOZEMAN — Montana State University is leveraging its breakthrough into federal defense research to bring broader opportunities to Montana’s innovation community, hosting a regional event next week that connects local businesses and startups with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency.

MSU will host a DARPAConnect Regional Pop-Up on Wednesday, Sept. 24, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Strand Union Building. The event represents a significant step forward for the university, which landed its first DARPA contract just six weeks ago with a $780,000 cybersecurity research award.

“Montana State University is proud to host DARPA on campus and provide this opportunity for Montana innovators to connect with some of the nation’s top problem-solvers,” said Alison Harmon, vice president for research and economic development at MSU.

The timing reflects MSU’s strategic approach to building on its new DARPA relationship. The August cybersecurity contract, awarded to MSU’s Harnessing Automation in Cybersecurity Reasoning Lab, marked the university’s entry into DARPA-funded research and established credibility with the elite federal research agency.

Expanding Beyond Cybersecurity

While MSU’s initial DARPA partnership focused on cybersecurity automation, the pop-up event will showcase the agency’s broader research portfolio, including artificial intelligence, quantum technologies, biotechnology, advanced manufacturing and cybersecurity.

The quantum technologies component could be particularly relevant for MSU, which opened its $44.7 million QCORE quantum computing facility last month with military backing. The facility has already attracted industry partnerships, including a California semiconductor company that relocated to Montana specifically for access to the quantum lab.

Attendees will learn about DARPA’s mission and upcoming initiatives, as well as best practices for engaging with program managers and crafting proposals that stand out. In-person participants will have access to Q&A sessions about program timelines, funding and partnerships, plus networking opportunities with DARPA officials.

The event costs $100 for in-person attendance, with a free virtual option available, though not all sessions will be available online. Registration is required through the event website.

Strategic Growth Opportunity

The progression from individual contract recipient to regional event host demonstrates MSU’s growing profile in federal defense research. As Montana’s largest research entity with approximately $288 million in research expenditures in 2025, the university holds Carnegie Classification R-1 status for high research activity.

Matt Revelle, director of the HACR Lab and principal investigator on MSU’s DARPA cybersecurity contract, previously described the initial award as “an endorsement that the university is capable of delivering what DARPA is looking for” and a boost to MSU’s reputation in attracting cybersecurity talent.

DARPAConnect launched in 2022, in collaboration with the Applied Research Institute, to broaden the agency’s reach and foster collaboration with small businesses and educational institutions. The program specifically targets organizations that may not have previous experience working with DARPA.

Economic Development Impact

The event positions Montana to compete for federal research dollars that typically flow to traditional defense contractors and major research universities. DARPA’s research expenditures often lead to breakthrough technologies with both military and civilian applications.

For Montana’s emerging innovation ecosystem, the event provides access to an agency known for funding high-risk, high-reward research projects that have historically produced technologies ranging from the internet to GPS systems.

The university’s research activities already contribute to Montana’s economy by creating jobs, providing contracts to businesses and applying research findings to benefit the state and nation, according to MSU.

“The research could have significant impacts on cybersecurity and other fields,” MSU noted in announcing the August DARPA contract, suggesting broader applications beyond the initial cybersecurity focus.

The DARPAConnect event represents an opportunity for Montana innovators to explore how their work might align with federal defense research priorities, potentially opening doors to future partnerships and contracts.