Alexandria, VA – July 5, 2026 – Akiak Technology, LLC and Mason Enterprise at George Mason University today announced a strategic partnership through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to create a cross-sector innovation gateway that accelerates the adoption of emerging technologies across government intended to reduce development and procurement timelines and implementation risk.  Together, the organizations will strengthen public-private collaboration to drive American innovation, economic growth, and national security.

Mason Enterprise, part of George Mason University, is the commonwealth’s largest public research institution offering cross-sector access to cutting-edge research, world-class faculty, student talent, and a robust entrepreneurial ecosystem. Mason Enterprise serves also as a bridge for access to the university’s state-of-the-art technology and research labs dedicated to robotics, renewable energy, AI, quantum, cyber, and virtual reality. The Akiak Technology–Mason Enterprise partnership will serve as the nexus for engaging government officials to assist in technical solutions that combine scientific research, entrepreneurial thinking, and real-world application.  

“Our partnership accelerates the commercialization of federally funded discoveries, ensuring that today’s research more efficiently becomes tomorrow’s competitive edge,” said Sharon Hamer, COO of Akiak Technology. “By connecting academic learning with real-world government technology initiatives, we are building a workforce that is not only highly skilled but immediately ready to drive innovation and provide government an advantage of developing breakthrough technologies on day one.” Ms. Hamer is Yup’ik and an enrolled tribal member of the Akiak Native Community, a remote village in southwest Alaska. “For Akiak Technology, this partnership represents the fusion of Indigenous values and innovation, what we call “Indigenuity.” By connecting our Yup’ik worldview of adaptive problem-solving, our Indigenous knowledge naturally aligns with AI innovations through pattern recognition, environmental awareness, systems thinking, ethics, and long-term memory passed through oral histories.” 

Mason Enterprise serves as George Mason University’s engine for entrepreneurship and economic growth, connecting academia, industry, investors, nonprofits, and government agencies to accelerate innovation. Through its programs and access to advanced research labs, the Akiak Technology-Mason Enterprise alliance intends to focus on forming multidisciplinary teams including expertise in artificial intelligence, quantum science, engineering, entrepreneurship and technology commercialization to accelerate the movement of ideas from research to operational use.

“George Mason is a key driver as part of the nation’s fastest-growing entrepreneurial destination for investors and inventors,” said Paula Sorrell, George Mason University’s Associate Vice President for Innovation and Economic Development. “Our partnership with Akiak Technology further strengthens a thriving ecosystem of public-private collaboration that increases capacity to develop innovative solutions for government adoption.” 

Future initiatives and research activities arising from the partnership will be governed through separate project agreements to ensure appropriate research oversight, intellectual property protection, and compliance with university and government standards.