NW Innovation Resource Center

NW Innovation Resource Center We are a strategic partner for innovators, entrepreneurs and inventors to help bring their ideas to life.

We assist by building a customized strategy for success through an expert business toolkit and access to an expansive community of local resources Located in Whatcom County, the Northwest Innovation Resource Center (NWIRC) is committed to creating economic opportunity and jobs by supporting entrepreneurial innovation. With the combined efforts of the NWIRC staff, board, educational institutions, a

nd other community partners, we are a collaborative network of resources providing the framework necessary for the entrepreneur's success. In addition, BuildIt is a program of the NWIRC designed specifically for inventors and product developers. We offer guidance to inventors to help them determine the best route to develop their business and take their product to market. For additional information please visit our websites: www.nwirc.com and www.builditnw.com

🚀 NWIRC Monthly AI Meetup – June EditionIn collaboration with Cascadia AI and Cloud Computing, NWIRC presents our monthl...
05/20/2026

🚀 NWIRC Monthly AI Meetup – June Edition

In collaboration with Cascadia AI and Cloud Computing, NWIRC presents our monthly AI Meetups—designed to share, discuss, and build practical AI knowledge through expert-led presentations and peer-to-peer conversations.

Each month features a new AI topic with industry- and field-specific insights tailored for small businesses, innovative entrepreneurs, and our regional workforce.

📅 Wednesday June 10, 2026
⏰ 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM
📍 IRC Lab–SWIFT

In June, we welcome Ava Meredith, CS Professor and a co-recipient of the Microsoft Elevate grant, for:
Building a Blueprint for AI Security & Governance
In this session, you’ll get a practical breakdown of AI security rooted in industry standards, paired with a robust governance model that ensures responsible usage. This presentation bridges the gap between technical ex*****on and everyday operations offering critical insights for:

Developers: How to build, integrate, and secure AI systems using proven security standards.

Chatbot End-Users: How to safely interact with AI tools, manage data privacy, and avoid common prompt risks.

While developed with technical rigor, this framework is designed to be universally applicable to any organization looking to scale AI safely. Come walk away with an actionable roadmap for your team.

Don’t miss this opportunity to stay competitive as we enter the AI optimization era in 2026.


Thank you to everyone who joined us for an inspiring day exploring the future of the fusion economy in the Pacific North...
05/07/2026

Thank you to everyone who joined us for an inspiring day exploring the future of the fusion economy in the Pacific Northwest. ⚡

From entrepreneurs and manufacturers to engineers, skilled trades professionals, and clean energy leaders, the conversations made it clear: our region is ready to lead the next era of innovation. Together, we explored how transferable skills from aerospace, maritime, and advanced manufacturing can help power the growing fusion energy sector and create new opportunities across our workforce and supply chain ecosystem.

A special thank you to all attendees, speakers, sponsors, partners, and collaborators who helped make this event such a success.

The momentum is building, and this is only the beginning. 🚀

Thank you to our sponsors for helping make this event possible:


The Port of Skagit
Anvil Corporation

🚀 Join us for our next AI Meetup this May!In collaboration with Cascadia AI and Cloud Computing, NWIRC’s monthly AI Meet...
05/02/2026

🚀 Join us for our next AI Meetup this May!

In collaboration with Cascadia AI and Cloud Computing, NWIRC’s monthly AI Meetups bring together innovators, small businesses, and professionals to explore practical, real-world applications of AI. Each session dives into a new topic with expert insights and engaging peer-to-peer conversations—helping you stay competitive in today’s rapidly evolving digital economy.

As we move deeper into the AI optimization era of 2026, staying informed and secure is more important than ever.

🔐 This month’s session:

How Altrusion Uses AI as a Force Multiplier to Create the Fusion Energy Supply Chain

Hear from Dr. Van Dyk and Mason Gentry of Altrusion as they share how they’re building and deploying AI tools—from automated contract discovery to real-time quoting and supplier workflows—to scale operations far beyond team size

📅 Thursday, May 14, 2026
⏰ 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM
📍 IRC Lab–SWIFT

Join us for How Altrusion Uses AI as a Force Multiplier to Create the Fusion Energy at the IRC Lab–SWIFT and be part of the conversation shaping the future of AI in industry.

The fusion economy is taking shape — and our region is ready. ⚡Fusion energy is no longer a distant concept. It’s creati...
04/28/2026

The fusion economy is taking shape — and our region is ready. ⚡

Fusion energy is no longer a distant concept. It’s creating real opportunities today across new markets, supply chains, and high-impact careers. Entrepreneurs, manufacturers, and skilled professionals are uniquely positioned to lead the way.

The key? Transferable skills.

From aerospace to maritime to advanced manufacturing, the expertise built here in the Pacific Northwest directly powers the future of fusion. If you work in precision machining, engineering, fabrication, or technical trades — your skills are already in demand.

Join us for this upcoming event presented by NWIRC in collaboration with CleanTech Alliance:
🔹 Connect with regional suppliers
🔹 Explore emerging innovation
🔹 Be part of the clean energy workforce conversation

This is a must-attend for professionals in:
• Precision manufacturing
• Materials & engineering
• Technical trades
• Supply chain & logistics

Spots are limited — register now and be part of what’s next.

That's a wrap on the Northern Cascades SAF Event Series 🎉 Event 3: Building the SAF Workforce brought together industry,...
04/09/2026

That's a wrap on the Northern Cascades SAF Event Series 🎉

Event 3: Building the SAF Workforce brought together industry, educators, researchers, and community partners at Bellingham Technical College to map the path forward for SAF workforce development in our region.

The opportunity is real — and it starts with recognizing transferable skills, building the right connections, and making targeted training investments that open doors for workers and rural communities across the Northern Cascades. ✈️🌄

A huge thank you to our speakers and to everyone who showed up across all three events. This is just the beginning.

Follow along as NWIRC turns this momentum into action. 🌲

🌟 Featured Speakers Announced – Northern Cascades SAF Event Series (Part 3) 🌱✈️We’re excited to spotlight the incredible...
04/04/2026

🌟 Featured Speakers Announced – Northern Cascades SAF Event Series (Part 3) 🌱✈️

We’re excited to spotlight the incredible voices joining us for the final session of the Northern Cascades SAF Event Series, focused on Workforce Development. These speakers bring deep expertise across education, industry, and innovation—driving the future of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) in our region.

🎤 What they’ll cover:
• Building cutting-edge process technology curriculum aligned with industry needs
• Unlocking new workforce opportunities in the timber sector
• Exploring engineering and research career pathways in SAF
• Strengthening partnerships between education, industry, and regional leaders

Our featured speakers represent a dynamic mix of educators, industry professionals, and innovators working at the forefront of SAF development—helping turn regional strengths into real economic opportunities.

📅 Event Details
SAF Workforce Development – Part 3
Thursday, April 9, 2026
8:30 AM – Noon
📍 Bellingham Technical College
Desmond McArdle Center, Room 118

This is your chance to hear directly from leaders shaping the SAF workforce pipeline and to connect with partners across the Northern Cascades.

🚀 Let’s build the future of sustainable aviation—together. Don’t miss it!

Amy Paquette, Data Analytics Program Manager, took the stage at the North Puget Sound Business Builder Expo on March 31!...
04/01/2026

Amy Paquette, Data Analytics Program Manager, took the stage at the North Puget Sound Business Builder Expo on March 31! 🎤

She delivered powerful insights and practical strategies on how small businesses can harness the power of AI to drive growth, improve decision-making, and stay competitive in today’s fast-changing landscape.

From data-driven decision making to accessible AI tools, her session highlighted real opportunities for businesses ready to innovate and scale. 🚀

🌱✈️ Northern Cascades SAF Event Series – Part 3! NWIRC is back with its final event in its three-event series focused on...
03/25/2026

🌱✈️ Northern Cascades SAF Event Series – Part 3! 

NWIRC is back with its final event in its three-event series focused on turning Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) commitments into real business opportunities across the Northern Cascades. 🌱✈️ 

This three-part series is designed to turn SAF commitments into real, actionable business opportunities across our region. Each 3-hour event highlights a critical piece of SAF development—bringing together counties, industry partners, and innovators to lead where they have unique strengths. 

🔍 What to expect: 
• Insights into SAF opportunities for regional businesses and innovators 
• Showcasing Northern Cascades strengths in production, feedstock, and workforce 
• Direct connections with SAF producers and support services 
• A focus on building strong, multi-county collaboration 
• Opportunities to strengthen regional business support and partnerships 

📅 Join us for the third and final event| SAF Workforce Development 
Date: Thursday, April 9, 2026 
Time: 8:30 AM – Noon 
Location:  Bellingham Technical College 
3028 Lindberg Ave, 
Bellingham, WA 98225 – Desmond McArdle Center, Room 118 

This session will focus on: 
• Process technology curriculum & industry partnerships 
• Timber industry workforce opportunities 
• Engineering and research career pathways 

We’re excited to bring together both new and familiar faces as we continue building momentum for SAF in the Northern Cascades. 

Don’t miss this final event! 

🚀 Join Us for April’s NWIRC AI Meetup! In collaboration with Cascadia AI and Cloud Computing, NWIRC’s monthly AI Meetups...
03/19/2026

🚀 Join Us for April’s NWIRC AI Meetup!

In collaboration with Cascadia AI and Cloud Computing, NWIRC’s monthly AI Meetups bring together innovators, small businesses, and professionals to explore practical, real-world applications of AI. Each session dives into a new topic with expert insights and engaging peer-to-peer conversations—helping you stay competitive in today’s rapidly evolving digital economy.

🔬 April Feature Session:
We’re excited to welcome Chelsea Liekhus-Schmaltz, PhD—Senior Research Data Scientist at Zap Energy and Founder & CEO of Ergo Labs AI.

Chelsea will tackle one of the biggest challenges in generative AI: hallucinations—especially in high-stakes, “unverifiable” fields like science. Learn how cutting-edge tools and architectures—like MCP servers, vector databases, and structured schemas—are being used to improve accuracy, reliability, and trust in AI-driven scientific research.

📅 Thursday, April 9, 2026
⏰ 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM
📍 IRC Lab–SWIFT

Don’t miss this opportunity to gain actionable insights and connect with others shaping the future of AI!

Address

2200 Rimland Drive, Ste 210
Bellingham, WA
98226

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

(360) 255-7871

Website

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