University of Maryland Represented at International Forum

The University of Maryland (UMD) A. James Clark School of Engineering and the UMD MATRIX Lab are now engaging in and establishing impactful international collaborations, most recently, through the AUKUS (Australia, United Kingdom, United States) Forum. The event, held in Sydney in November, brought together leaders from the United States, Great Britain, and Australia representing defense, industry, government, academia, and advanced technology.

Dr. Reza Ghodssi, University of Maryland Distinguished University Professor, was one of the keynote speakers at the conference. He presented transformative, innovative research advances in the fields AUKUS focuses on, including advanced manufacturing, autonomous systems, and robotics. He also emphasized the importance of accelerating the path from research to real-world deployment. Read more in AUKUS’ press release

Maryland strives to be a leader in advanced manufacturing, and UMD is poised to become the East Coast hub for advanced manufacturing research and innovation. The MATRIX Lab works to lead the nation in advancing multidomain autonomous technologies across air, land, sea, and cyber domains by facilitating cross-sector research and enhancing autonomous systems education.

Last year, Governor Wes Moore renewed an economic memorandum of understanding (MOU) between Maryland and South Australia. When the agreement was first signed in 2019, it focused on collaboration in cybersecurity, small satellites, and space. The renewal expanded the focus to include testing ranges, workforce development, and unmanned autonomous vehicles. In support of the MOU, St. Mary’s County Department of Economic Development assisted the Maryland Department of Commerce with a visit by Sumen Rai, Director of the Defence Innovation Partnership and part of the South Australian Space Industry Centre Executive Team. The visit included tours of the SMART Building, MATRIX Lab, and UROC, as well as ABSI, Southern Maryland TechBridge, Andromeda Systems, and Render.

Published December 16, 2025