Picogrid, a leading developer of integrated systems technology and tenant at the Fires Innovation Science and Technology Accelerator (FISTA) Innovation Park, today announced a $500,000 corporate partnership with Cameron University. This award marks the largest single commercial award to Cameron University in the university’s history. The partnership focuses on developing military software infrastructure for a future in which thousands of autonomous systems will operate on the battlefield.
The research initiative will be primarily conducted at FISTA, where Picogrid maintains a facility. This proximity allows Cameron University students to move out of the classroom and into a live environment, working directly alongside professional engineers.
“This funding represents a pivotal moment for our partnership with Cameron University and another step in our engagement at FISTA,” said Martin Slosarik, Co-Founder of Picogrid. “We are not just developing technology; we are building a workforce. By bringing students into our offices to work on real-world defense challenges, we are setting up the next generation of engineers to keep America competitive.”
The partnership aligns with the university’s mission to provide students with practical, career-shaping opportunities in high-demand fields.
“Securing the largest corporate research partnership in our university’s history is a tremendous validation of our faculty’s expertise and our students’ potential,” said Dr. Shane Hunt, President of Cameron University. “This collaboration with Picogrid goes beyond funding; it opens the doors of FISTA to our students, allowing them to work on the cutting edge of national defense technology right here in Lawton.”
As the host for this collaboration, FISTA sees this as a proof-of-concept for its mission to unite private industry with local resources.
“This partnership epitomizes the vision behind FISTA,” said Dr. Krista Ratliff, President and CEO of FISTA. “We strive to be the conduit that connects innovative defense startups with the deep talent pool of the Lawton-Fort Sill community. Seeing Picogrid and Cameron University come together to create history here is exactly the kind of economic and technological growth we aim to foster.”
The research will focus on strategies for deploying and managing sensors and unmanned assets at scale—a critical capability for deterring potential conflicts with near-peer competitors. It builds upon an earlier collaboration with Cameron University.
Limited opportunities remain for eligible STEM and business students to participate in this research. Dr. Marge Kingsley, Vice President for Academic Affairs, is overseeing the applications and research program together with Picogrid.
