PHOENIX, AZ (February 13, 2026) – Tech talks at the Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff. STEM pitches in Yuma. A sunrise hike at Phoenix Mountain preserve. An AI discussion in Cottonwood’s wine country; patient-centered health discussions in Tucson.
These experiences—and more—are being featured at the inaugural Arizona Tech Week, taking place April 6-12, 2026.
The Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA) announced the launch of the highly anticipated event calendar, featuring over 100 events statewide.
Arizona Tech Week will convene innovators, entrepreneurs, investors, influencers, and industry leaders to foster collaboration and connection, showcasing Arizona’s leadership as a global innovation hub. Arizona Tech Week is supported by Platinum Sponsors Honeywell Aerospace and IdealabAZ, and Gold Sponsor Western Alliance Bank.
“Arizona Tech Week is an incredible milestone in our state’s innovation journey. From TED-style talks and robotics demos to AI-powered factory tours and pitch competitions, this week will showcase the very best of Arizona’s tech ecosystem,” said Sandra Watson, President and CEO of the Arizona Commerce Authority. “We’re excited to partner with so many amazing organizations to create an unforgettable experience and can’t wait to welcome innovators from around the world to experience Arizona’s momentum first-hand.”
“The most interesting innovation rarely happens where everyone expects it—it happens at the edges, in unexpected places like Flagstaff. We're standing on the ground where Pluto was discovered, and today we're home to a genesis of innovation in bioengineering, space technologies, and sustainability,” said Scott Hathcock, President & CEO, Moonshot. “If you're only looking at traditional hubs, you're missing the future. Some of it is being built right here, at altitude. That's why we're so thrilled that Arizona has created AZ Tech Week—an event that allows us to showcase our innovation with an ‘altitude.’”
“AZ Tech Week highlights Yuma County’s role as a place where innovation is tested and proven in the real world,” said Jerry Cabrera, President and CEO, Elevate Southwest. “As a regional test bed for technologies spanning agriculture to aerospace and defense, Elevate Southwest is proud to connect that innovation to workforce opportunities and help position our community as a driver of Arizona’s technology future.”
“Show Low is a beautiful small town with a very business forward attitude,” said Rich Chanick, Associate Vice President of External Relations, Northland Pioneer College. “We are excited to participate in Arizona Tech Week with an event that involves our entire town. We look forward to showing Arizona Tech Week attendees what we have to offer.”
On February 14, 2025, Governor Katie Hobbs relaunched the Arizona Space Commission, appointing seven leaders from industry, science, and education to help spearhead its efforts. These Arizonans are poised to put Arizona at the forefront of space technology, create jobs, and help grow Arizona’s workforce in critical industries.
The Arizona Space Commission has been dormant for the past decade. Last year, the Governor signed HB2254 to revive the Commission and further promote and expand space, aeronautics, and aviation industry in Arizona. The Commission will identify potential projects that would advance Arizona’s position in the industry and plan and implement aerospace-related educational opportunities in Arizona. The Arizona Commerce Authority will support the work of the Commission, which is required to develop and publish a strategic plan every two years.
Governor Katie Hobbs appointed our Chairman and City of Yuma Mayor, Douglas Nicholls, to the newly launched Arizona Space Commission. This commission will advance Arizona’s leadership in space exploration, aerospace innovation, and economic development.
Yuma could be the future home of a spaceport that would help companies launch satellites into space, while creating thousands of new jobs and generating billions in economic impact for Arizona
The City of Yuma — lead applicant for the Southwest Regional Aerospace Innovation Alliance — has been named a finalist in the National Science Foundation’s Regional Innovation Engines program.
If selected as a recipient for NSF funding, the Southwest Regional Aerospace Innovation Alliance could receive up to $160 million over 10 years to establish a spaceport in Yuma, located in the southwest corner of the state near the Mexico border.
The Yuma City Council received an update on the spaceport project, explaining where the port could be located and where they are in the process. The project has been in the works for the past couple of years. It is set to be located near the Arizona State Prison.
The port will focus more on satellite launches. The city is currently in the application process with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
"They want to make sure anything that we launch into space, that the safety cones that we’re not going to impact population centers, that all of that is addressed," said Jay Simonton, the Yuma City Administrator.
PWRJoule, a pioneer in energy storage innovation, announced the launch of its new website. The website offers a glimpse into the future of energy storage with its forthcoming high-density redux batteries. These revolutionary batteries are poised to deliver up to 3X the energy storage performance compared to other leading redox batteries, setting a new standard for efficiency and longevity.
PWRJoule's high-density redux batteries are currently in development, with promising concepts being proven. These batteries are designed to pack more energy into a smaller footprint, offering a compact and robust solution for a wide range of applications. From industrial energy storage to powering electric vehicles, these batteries promise longer-lasting power and superior performance.
"We are thrilled to unveil our new website and provide a preview of our groundbreaking high-density redox battery technology," said Frank Moreno, Chief Marketing Officer at PWRJoule.
Flagstaff was in the top five and Yuma in the top 40 on a new ranking of 100 startup cities across America that are off the beaten entrepreneurial track. Yuma, Arizona, ranked number 36 nationwide.
On March 7, 2024, Elevate Southwest launched ¨The STEM Road¨ podcast. Elevate Southwest strives to foster an advanced regional workforce that meets the needs of current and future employers through a regional process of collaboration and partnerships to elevate and advance post-secondary and higher education access and attainment in the Greater Yuma Region (Arizona, USA).
Host: Jerry Cabrera, Elevate Southwest President/CEO.
In 2023, Education Forward Arizona launched #EverythingToGain, a statewide campaign focused on increasing awareness of the importance of postsecondary education for Arizonans.
96% of Arizonans believe all students should have access to a high-quality education regardless of their zip code. To read the full report, please click on the link provided below:
The initiatives align perfectly with Elevate Southwest's mission to improve the quality of life and strengthen communities, making it an indispensable partner in Yuma County’s journey toward educational excellence and economic prosperity.
On October 24, 2023, Douglas Nicholls and Jerry Cabrera, Elevate Southwest Chairman and President/CEO, respectively, along with other regional leaders, participated as honorary witnesses in the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) Signing Ceremony between the Sonora State University (Universidad Estatal de Sonora), The University of Arizona – Yuma Campus, Northern Arizona University – Yuma Campus, Arizona State University – Yuma Campus, and Arizona Western College.
This partnership between the universities, the college, Elevate Southwest, and 4FrontED highlights the importance of collaboration in education, workforce development, STEM programs, agricultural technology, and binational business programs, among other areas. Arizona Western College hosted the event, which took place at the Hilton Garden Inn in Yuma, AZ.
MOU Signatories:
Dr. Armando Moreno Soto, President, Universidad Estatal de Sonora
Dr. Craig Wilson, University of Arizona, Vice Provost / Online, Distance and Continuing Education (ODCE), University of Arizona
Dr. Rasmus Lynnerup, Assistant Vice Provost for Academic Alliances, Arizona State University
Dr. Yvonne M. Luna, Vice Provost for Academic and Workforce Alliances, Northern Arizona University
Dr. Daniel P. Corr, President, Arizona Western College
MOU Honorary Witnesses:
Douglas Nicholls, Mayor of Yuma
Martin Porchas, Chair of the Board of Supervisors, Yuma County
Gerardo Anaya, Mayor of Somerton
Sherry Cordova, Chairwoman, Cocopah Indian Tribe
Luis Cabrera, Vice-Mayor of San Luis
Cecilia McCollough, Vice-Mayor of Wellton
Dulce Valle, Consul of Mexico in Yuma
Jerry Cabrera, President/CEO, Elevate Southwest.
Alejandro Figueroa, Economic Development and Intergovernmental Affairs Director of Yuma County, was the event´s moderator. The executed MOU (Eng/Spa) is available at the link included below:
As mentioned by President Robbins, Paul Brierley, Director of the Arizona Department of Agriculture and a board member of Elevate Southwest, has led the effort as the previous Executive Director of the Yuma Center of Excellence for Desert Agriculture on this report. To read the report, please click on the link provided below:
The report suggests many opportunities within our Yuma area. Elevate Southwest is at the forefront of fostering an innovation hub in Yuma County, aligning seamlessly with these proposals, including partnership expansion and fortifying collaboration.
