ROME, NY — A ceremony in Rome on Friday officially launched ORION, a technology accelerator and innovation ecosystem aimed at enhancing the U.S. Department of Defense’s (DoD) ability to develop, secure, deploy and use IoT technologies. ORION, which stands for Open Architecture Resilient IoT for Operational Networks, is billed as the region’s first inter-organizational technology partnership. […]
ROME, NY — A ceremony in Rome on Friday officially launched ORION, a technology accelerator and innovation ecosystem aimed at enhancing the U.S. Department of Defense’s (DoD) ability to develop, secure, deploy and exploit IoT technologies. ORION stands for Open-Architecture Resilient IoT for Operational Networks and is billed as the region’s first inter-organizational technology partnership focused on the Internet of Things (IoT). IoT connects everyday devices and objects to the Internet and allows them to communicate with each other. According to a Griffith Lab announcement, the technology “improves our lives by making everyday tasks, such as remotely controlling home devices or tracking health metrics, more convenient and efficient.” ORION is a congressionally funded initiative between the Air Force Research Laboratory Intelligence Directorate (AFRL), Assured Information Security (AIS), Quanterion Solutions, Inc., Griffith Lab, and the New York State Technology Enterprise Corporation (NYSTEC). Friday’s ceremony took place at ORION’s NTROPEE facility at 99 Langley Road in Rome. “Leading ORION has been a rewarding experience that has demonstrated how innovation and collaboration can transform the IoT environment. The ORION Lab within the Innovare Advancement Center plays a critical role in this mission, alongside the NTROPEE facility, providing our ecosystem partners with the tools and environment to create cutting-edge solutions,” Anthony Masella, senior computer engineer and senior program manager for AFRL’s Intelligence Directorate, said in a Griffith Lab announcement. “In addition, these facilities provide a valuable opportunity to educate and inspire guests visiting Griffith Lab on tours, showcasing the groundbreaking work being done here to create seamless integration and have a meaningful impact on national security.” The NTROPEE facility is “more than just a 20,000-square-foot hangar. According to the website orionassured.com, ORION will be “a hub for the development and testing of large-scale IoT systems, from unmanned aerial vehicles to industrial controls.” Officials said ORION plans to “transform the local tech landscape and expand its influence statewide and nationally” by addressing key challenges in the IoT industry. Friday’s event highlighted ORION’s role in driving economic growth, creating jobs and attracting investment, describing it as “elevating the region’s tech reputation.”