Tag: AIAA SciTech Forum 2026

Advancing the Field: Luminary Cloud Announced New Physics AI Models at AIAA SciTech Forum

FROM THE INSTITUTE
Luminary Cloud, an AIAA Corporate Member, announced the release of three new physics AI defense models designed to dramatically expedite U.S. defense technology development while at AIAA SciTech Forum 2026. “The new physics AI models are intended to complement simulation technology, and instead of giving execution times in hours, they will provide answers in less than a second,” said Juan Alonso, Chief Technology Officer and Co-Founder, Luminary Cloud. “This is a significant acceleration of engineering workflows, which is made possible by the very large data sets we are able to create with GPU-native physics solvers and by the revolution in Physics AI methods.”

AIAA SciTech Forum 2026 Event Recap Published

This report provides a comprehensive look back at this year’s forum, from attendee demographics and the technical program to the Expo Hall and the HUB. Explore media highlights, digital engagement, and other key moments.

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AIAA SciTech Forum Student Paper Competitions

FROM THE INSTITUTE
AIAA Student Paper Competitions recognize outstanding student research presented at AIAA forums and events. The competitions give undergraduate and graduate students the opportunity to present original technical work, gain professional recognition, and receive feedback from their peers in industry and academia. We are pleased to announce the winners of the competitions held at AIAA SciTech Forum 2026.

Hands-On Aerospace: Technical Committees Bring STEM to Middle School Classrooms

FROM THE INSTITUTE
During AIAA SciTech Forum, three AIAA technical committees, the Structural Dynamics TC, Structures TC, and Aerodynamics Measurement Technologies TC, along with representatives from Blue Origin’s Club for the Future partnered with Southwest Middle School in Orlando, for an off-site STEM outreach event.

Shield AI Co-Founder Shares 10-Year Journey Reimagining Air Power

FROM THE INSTITUTE
When brothers Ryan and Brandon Tseng co-founded Shield AI a decade ago with Andrew Reiter, they did so with a fire in their belly and a clear mission: to protect service members and civilians with intelligent systems, buoyed by the belief that “air power is the only way to deter war.”

IQT: Seeding Early-Stage Private Sector Innovation into Defense Programs

FROM THE INSTITUTE
QT (In-Q-Tel), the independent strategic investor focused on accelerating national security innovation, was featured in a HUB session at AIAA SciTech Forum 2026 in January.  Founded in 1999, IQT serves as an independent, not-for-profit strategic investor that bridges the gap between government needs and rapidly advancing private-sector innovations. Over the past 25 years, IQT has invested in more than 800 startups across the globe, helping fuel the commercial space industry.

Space Funding Picture Mixed Heading into 2026

FROM THE INSTITUTE
The future of U.S. research funding was debated Tuesday at AIAA SciTech Forum, where academic, industry, and startup space leaders expressed cautious optimism for America’s science and technology innovation pipeline. The budget picture for NASA and the U.S. Space Force in 2025 saw yearlong continuing resolutions and DOGE canceling or pausing contracts, which together “make it difficult to talk about 2026 relative to 2025,” said Carissa Christensen, founder and CEO of BryceTech.

AIAA Welcomes RTX as an AIAA Corporate Partner

AIAA announced today that RTX has elevated its engagement with the world’s largest aerospace technical institute to the Corporate Partner level. RTX joins Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman in an elite group of Corporate Partners – the highest level of support and engagement in AIAA.