Join us every first Friday of the month for Coffee & Connections from 8:00 AM to 9:00 AM at the UND Center for Innovation! This informal gathering is the perfect opportunity for CFI members & partners to enjoy a cup of coffee, donuts, connect with fellow innovators, and start their day inspired!

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Project Rural Reach will launch its first use case test with a long-range drone flight, demonstrating the potential of unmanned aircraft to connect rural communities with medical goods using the Vantis system. The flight will feature a Supervolo drone operated by iSight Drone Services and showcase a 34-mile Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) journey between Williston and Watford City, North Dakota.
Learn More about Project RuralReach
When:
Thursday, July 24, 2025
9:00 a.m. (weather permitting)
Why It Matters:
This marks a key milestone in North Dakota’s commitment to advancing unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) for public benefit, improving connectivity, delivery, and emergency response across rural regions. Project Rural Reach aims to demonstrate real-world drone applications in sparsely populated areas.
Media Contact:
Haylee Bjork, Marketing Outreach Coordinator
Organization: UND Center for Innovation
Email: haylee.bjork@und.edu
Phone: 701.777.3281

The Kidpreneur Program is an opportunity for middle and high school students who want to start a business or currently own a business! This partnership provides youthwith training and education on entrepreneurship as well as an opportunity to promote their business to over 40,000 people at the Downtown Street Fair!

Sign Up

Join us every first Friday of the month for Coffee & Connections from 8:00 AM to 9:00 AM at the UND Center for Innovation! This informal gathering is the perfect opportunity for CFI members & partners to enjoy a cup of coffee, donuts, connect with fellow innovators, and start their day inspired!

Learn More

This year is the 10th Annual Downtown Street Fair! Vendors, food trucks, musicians, and more will be lining the streets of Downtown at this all-ages event! Come enjoy the company of friends and family, mingle with crafters and artists, score a perfect item for your home, and grab a delicious snack or meal. Spend the day outside partaking in some shopping therapy, fun in the sun and visiting the local shops that help make downtown vibrant

This year is the 10th Annual Downtown Street Fair! Vendors, food trucks, musicians, and more will be lining the streets of Downtown at this all-ages event! Come enjoy the company of friends and family, mingle with crafters and artists, score a perfect item for your home, and grab a delicious snack or meal. Spend the day outside partaking in some shopping therapy, fun in the sun and visiting the local shops that help make downtown vibrant!

Be sure to RSVP and discover the latest AI advancements transforming the workplace, and find out how these ongoing changes could shape your future!

RSVP [🔗] https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeXSILxovut48e_-HhPXBfT-FP09bMjJRgfR883pPLmBeeOlw/viewform

As part of Project RuralReach, Censys Technologies has been selected to lead a critical use case test focused on improving disaster response, real-time situational awareness, and resource mobilization through advanced unmanned aircraft systems (UAS).
This live demonstration will highlight how UAS technology can be deployed in emergency scenarios to support first responders and rural communities.
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Learn how to pitch your innovation and compete for up to $2M in NSF seed funding.

This session will present an overview of America’s Seed Fund powered by the U.S. National Science Foundation, a grantmaking program that provides funding to startups without taking any stake in your company. The program encourages innovators across all scientific disciplines to submit proposals that explore new frontiers and challenge conventional knowledge boundaries. By providing critical seed funding, the U.S. National Science Foundation supports the ideas and the people who create breakthrough discoveries and innovations to address complex societal challenges. In this interactive session, we will provide key insights on how to craft a compelling Project Pitch, the first step in gaining access to up to $2 million. Come prepared to share your idea and explore how to define the problem, present your unique solution, and highlight its potential benefits.

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[📅] Thursday, September 12
[🕚] 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
[📍] CFI Lawn, 4200 James Ray Dr, Grand Forks ND 58202
The UND Center for Innovation is bringing together students, faculty, staff, and community partners to connect around impactful work, explore bold ideas, and expand professional networks, all while enjoying good food and summer activities.
RSVP to enjoy lunch, yard games, and meaningful conversations with fellow innovators and changemakers!
Open to all UND students, faculty, and community partners.
LEARN MORE/RSVP