UTRGV Institute for Advanced Manufacturing hosted the 2026 National Manufacturing Exhibition and Expo, bringing federal officials, national laboratory leaders, industry partners, students and regional stakeholders to the Rio Grande Valley.
More than 500 participants attended the two-day event on the Brownsville and Edinburg campuses March 26-27.
The Brownsville portion opened with a symposium focused on autonomous manufacturing, future mobility, energy systems, nuclear energy, artificial intelligence and digital transformation in manufacturing.
Participants included representatives from the U.S. Department of Energy, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Los Alamos National Laboratory, the Army Research Laboratory, the Georgia Institute of Technology, the University of Texas at Dallas and industry partners.
Roundtable discussions focused on workforce development in South Texas, readiness for AI-driven manufacturing systems, business incubation and the regional impact of critical minerals and rare earth production.
Attendees also toured the Port of Brownsville and SpaceX facilities, reinforcing the region growing role in manufacturing, energy and advanced technology.
The Edinburg portion of the expo focused on student engagement. About 200 middle and high school students from across the Rio Grande Valley took part in hands-on activities and facility tours at the Engineering Building and Advanced Manufacturing Research Facility.
UTRGV leaders said the event helped connect education, industry and national research priorities while supporting workforce readiness and long-term economic growth in South Texas.
Source: UTRGV Newsroom
