BOZEMAN—Gov. Greg Gianforte and the Montana Chamber of Commerce will host the third annual Big Sky, Bright Future Economic Summit on Oct. 15 in Bozeman, with this year’s event focused on technology and innovation in Montana.
The summit will bring together business leaders, policymakers and technology executives to discuss artificial intelligence, national security, precision agriculture, photonics, data centers and online safety.
“Montana’s technology sector is helping drive our state’s economic future,” Gianforte said. “From advancing precision agriculture and strengthening national security to opportunities in artificial intelligence and photonics, Montana’s innovators are creating good-paying jobs.”
The Montana Chamber said the state’s tech sector is the fastest-growing business sector in Montana and represents about 5% of the state’s gross domestic product.
Todd O’Hair, president and chief executive of the Montana Chamber, said Gianforte and First Lady Susan Gianforte were among the early entrepreneurs who helped fuel the sector’s growth through RightNow Technologies.
“As entrepreneurs starting RightNow Technologies, Governor Greg Gianforte and First Lady Susan Gianforte were some of the original sparks that led to the rapid growth we see today,” O’Hair said.
Scheduled speakers include U.S. Rep. Troy Downing, Montana State University President Brock Tessman, state Sen. Daniel Zolnikov of Billings and members of Gianforte’s cabinet.
The summit is expected to focus on Montana’s role in emerging technologies and the ways those industries could shape the state’s economy in the years ahead.