Gov. Mike Kehoe convenes state leaders, industry experts and researchers to chart Missouri’s technological future

As the national conversation on artificial intelligence and data centers continues to impact communities in Missouri, Gov. Mike Kehoe is bringing together state leaders, industry experts, researchers and other stakeholders at Missouri S&T on Thursday, June 18, to discuss the future of artificial intelligence and data centers in the state.

The forum will run from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. June 18 at S&T’s Missouri Protoplex, located at 1700 White Columns Drive in Rolla.  Attendance is free and open to the public. Registration is required at ai.mst.edu/governorsforum.

The Governor’s Forum on Artificial Intelligence and Data Centers will feature dynamic panel discussions and presentations focused on the critical issues driving AI growth and infrastructure development statewide, including:

• Energy demand: meeting the power requirements of next-generation data centers
• Workforce development: building the talent pipeline Missouri needs to compete
• Environmental considerations: pursuing growth that is responsible and sustainable
• Community impact: ensuring technological expansion benefits all Missourians.

“The State of Missouri’s growing reputation as a premier destination for innovation and next-generation technology presents the potential for incredible growth and local community benefits,” Kehoe says. “This forum is designed to bring together expertise from government, industry, higher education, and local communities to develop a shared understanding of topics that have the opportunity to shape Missouri’s workforce, research, and infrastructure for the future.”

Missouri S&T Chancellor Mohammad Dehghani says the university’s continued leadership in engineering and technology makes it a natural place to host discussions about the future of AI and advanced infrastructure.

“Conversations like the forum Gov. Kehoe is convening — about AI infrastructure, data centers, and Missouri’s economic future — are exactly why graduates must enter the workforce already fluent in these technologies,” Dehghani says. “Missouri S&T is proud to be the home for that dialogue, and equally proud to be the institution producing innovators who won’t just participate in the AI era, but help define it.”

Partners for the event include the Missouri Office of Administration, Missouri Department of Economic Development, Missouri Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development, Missouri Department of Natural Resources and Missouri Public Service Commission.

To register or learn more, visit ai.mst.edu/governorsforum.

About Missouri S&T

Missouri University of Science and Technology (Missouri S&T) is a STEM-focused research university of over 7,000 students located in Rolla, Missouri. Part of the four-campus University of Missouri System, Missouri S&T offers over 100 degrees in 40 areas of study and is among the nation’s top public universities for salary impact, according to the Wall Street Journal. For more information about Missouri S&T, visit www.mst.edu.