Sandia National Laboratories

The first program day examines the move from automated processes toward intelligent, connected systems capable of decision-making, optimization, and adaptive control. Sessions cover programmable cloud laboratory nodes for AI materials and manufacturing, Sandia’s Center for Advanced Manufacturing and Innovation, the Alabama Materials Institute, and an autonomous robotic metallurgist materials innovation platform. The program also connects self-driving and autonomous laboratory efforts associated with the Genesis Mission and Programmable Cloud Laboratories agendas to real-world applications, collaboration, and the future of autonomous manufacturing systems. An industry technology exhibition and demonstrations are included. The second program day explores Internet of Things for Manufacturing (IoTfM) use cases, implementation lessons, standards for connectivity and interoperability, and the future direction of IoTfM. Sessions address OPC UA, digital technologies and digital twins, factory-floor digital transformation, automation and additive manufacturing, manufacturing data, practical industrial IoT, and technologies shaping future factories. The program also includes advanced manufacturing pilot facility tour stations and demonstrations.

The program spans project execution, nuclear energy, and grids, AI, and infrastructure. Sessions address financing and delivering the U.S. energy buildout; grid capacity, interconnection, transmission, reliability, and cost allocation; and the effects of data-center and industrial demand on power planning. Nuclear topics include power for data centers, first-of-a-kind project cost and delivery, nuclear finance, HALEU and fuel supply, utility choices among large reactors, SMRs, and microreactors, and pathways to SMR deployment. Other sessions cover LNG security, trade, and investment; energy storage and grid-edge technologies; AI in energy operations; and project bankability, permitting, policy, supply-chain, and delivery risks. The program also includes executive roundtables, a project-execution clinic, and an energy startup pitch competition.

SpaceCom, in collaboration with NASA, focuses on commercialization, procurement, investment, partnerships, and business growth across the space economy. Its tracks cover infrastructure, manufacturing, mobility, market demand, investment trends, procurement priorities, lunar and cislunar initiatives, emerging technologies, commercial low Earth orbit destinations, AI, and autonomy. Program themes include Artemis cadence and architecture, supply-chain readiness, workforce and industrial execution, lunar infrastructure, robotics, human systems, commercial space stations, nuclear power and propulsion, science missions, orbital manufacturing, and space traffic management. Sessions address space-infrastructure co-investment, manufacturing bottlenecks, commercial procurement and scale, policy and governance, spacecraft servicing, cybersecurity, AI-enabled operations, lunar resource systems, and commercial investment. Headline keynotes include invited NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman and retired NASA astronaut Clayton Anderson.

The program examines North American advanced battery markets and technologies across grid-connected storage, electric vehicles, heavy-duty transportation, data centers, robotics, defense, and aerospace. Market briefings address light- and heavy-duty EVs, data centers and the grid, robotics, aerospace and defense applications, energy materials, and battery recycling and second-life markets. Plenary sessions cover data-center energy storage, foreign battery manufacturers in the U.S., and EV manufacturers navigating battery supply-chain gaps. Impact Sessions address non-lithium and emerging chemistries; defense batteries and domestic supply-chain security; truck, rail, and transit electrification; battery materials and the missing pCAM/CAM/AAM midstream; battery-technology financing; U.S. battery-materials mining; robotics and aerospace; domestic battery-manufacturing equipment supply chains; next-generation batteries; Chinese battery and technology supply relationships; and digitalization and AI in battery manufacturing. Other program elements include Community Action Labs, member company and research-institution presentations, and a closing roundtable on the future of battery technology. Featured program speakers include Bob Galyen, NAATBatt International’s Chief Technology Officer; M. Stanley Whittingham, NAATBatt’s Chief Science Officer and Nobel laureate; and David Hochschild, Chair of the California Energy Commission.

The conference focuses on Department of Defense opportunities for joint research, development, and experimentation. Collaborative workshops address challenges and emerging trends in the Indo-Pacific region. Closed sessions are held at the SECRET/REL to JPN, ROK, FRA, DEU, DEN, FVEY level; attendance is subject to clearance approval.

Presented by the Center for Hydrogen Safety, the conference addresses practical hydrogen safety challenges, regulations, codes and standards, and applied safety practices. Themes include process safety; quantitative risk analysis; explosions and hazards; materials integrity; hydrogen production and electrolysis; storage; transport and pipelines; fueling and mobility; incidents and lessons learned; public safety; emerging technology; and digital tools. Program topics include updates to CGA G-5.5 for hydrogen vent systems; compressed-hydrogen leak-rate requirements and testing practices; OSHA PSM and EPA RMP applicability and exemptions; hydrogen safety education; ultrasonic gas-leak detection; full-scale liquid-hydrogen tank failure testing; and detonation transmission in hydrogen-air mixtures. Other sessions address safer control architectures for hydrogen production, safety planning for large-scale projects and hydrogen hubs, abnormal-operation decision-making, loss-of-primary-containment indicators, green-hydrogen deployment at a public utility, risk assessment across H2–NH3–H2 supply chains, HyRAM+ modeling, operational data, vehicle-labeling standards, and hydrogen locomotive development.

The conference covers brazing and soldering research, development, and applications through plenary lectures, demonstrations, exhibits, and multiple tracks of presentations. Topics include aerospace, automotive and structural applications; corrosion of brazed joints; materials and process design and control; solder joining methods; filler-metal properties; mining and heavy equipment; furnace brazing; emerging technologies; joining ceramics, composites, lightweight materials, and refractory metals; and testing and inspection of brazed and soldered joints. The published program includes sessions on brazing ceramics, high-entropy and active filler metals, gas-turbine engines, stainless steels, cemented carbides, filler-metal and solder properties, brazing fluxes and chemical interactions, heat exchangers, properties of brazed and soldered joints, and processes and materials. C3 Committee meetings are also scheduled.