AGP Executive Report

Semiconductors: Intel and Applied Materials expanded research on advanced chips, including 3D packaging for AI computing, with work at Intel’s Hillsboro campus. OHSU Research: A study of about 200,000 people linked late-night eating with a 20% to 30% higher risk of liver disease; an OHSU researcher helped lead the work. Carbon Capture: Oregon State researchers developed a material aimed at capturing carbon from humid factory emissions. Biomanufacturing: Genentech broke ground on an Oregon facility for filling and finishing medicines. Rural Connectivity: The Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians received an $11.7 million USDA grant to expand fiber access.

OSU Research: Oregon State’s agricultural sciences college faces a $7.3 million shortfall, even as leaders look to a planned NVIDIA supercomputer to support research. AI Startups: The Oregon AI Accelerator has launched its second cohort, with 14 startups from across the region. Carbon Capture: OSU researchers developed a material designed to capture carbon from factory emissions in humid conditions. Genomics: Oregon is joining a seven-state effort to expand newborn genetic testing, with genome sequencing set to be offered in the state. Rural Broadband: The Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians received an $11.7 million USDA grant to build fiber infrastructure.

Semiconductors: Intel and Applied Materials are teaming up on chip research, including advanced packaging, at Intel’s Hillsboro campus and Applied’s new Silicon Valley center. AI Startups: The Oregon AI Accelerator has opened its second cohort, bringing 14 regional startups into the program. Carbon Capture: Oregon State researchers developed a material designed to capture carbon from humid factory emissions. Rural Connectivity: The Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians received an $11.7 million USDA grant to expand fiber broadband. Biotech: Genentech has broken ground on a device fill-finish manufacturing facility in Oregon. AI in Practice: Oregon Law launched a short course to help legal professionals use AI while protecting client information and meeting ethical obligations.

Carbon Capture: Oregon State researchers developed a material designed to capture carbon from factory emissions, including in humid conditions. Medical Technology: Archeon raised $9 million to advance clinical testing of its resuscitation ventilation device, with Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue among the study sites. Rural Connectivity: The Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians received an $11.7 million USDA grant for a fiber buildout. AI Startups: The Oregon AI Accelerator opened its second cohort with 14 regional startups. Newborn Screening: Oregon joined a seven-state effort to expand genetic testing for newborns. Clean Energy: Deschutes National Forest may open more of Newberry Volcano to geothermal prospecting.

Carbon Capture: Oregon State researchers developed a material designed to capture carbon dioxide from factory emissions even when they’re humid—a common obstacle for existing materials. OSU has filed a patent application. AI Startups: The Oregon AI Accelerator launched its second cohort, with 14 AI-focused startups from across the region. Broadband: AT&T, Global Infrastructure Partners and CPP Investments plan a wholesale fiber venture spanning 16 states, including Oregon, to expand access to high-speed networks. Biotech Manufacturing: Genentech broke ground on an Oregon facility for filling and finishing medicines, adding to the state’s life-sciences infrastructure. Genetic Screening: Oregon joined a seven-state effort to expand newborn genetic testing, while a separate initiative plans to offer genome sequencing to newborns.

Fish & Waterways: A federal ruling halted Oregon’s hatchery summer steelhead releases into the North Santiam, but not the McKenzie—putting the broader upper Willamette hatchery program back in the spotlight. Habitat Restoration: The last fish passage barrier was removed on Deep Creek, reconnecting about nine miles of habitat. Public Health Watch: A Russian lab worker’s death after suspected plague exposure is under monitoring; officials say public risk appears low, but the case is raising questions about lab reporting. Cybersecurity: Gov. Kotek proclaimed October Cybersecurity Awareness Month, urging Oregonians to recognize scams, secure devices, and use safer AI and multifactor authentication. Oregon Health Tech: Oregon will enroll families in a nationwide study testing whether genome sequencing can be added to routine newborn screening. Energy & Climate Tech: OSU researchers reported progress on carbon capture materials for humid conditions, while Oregon’s lithium-ion battery fire incidents rose sharply, prompting new fire-safety guidance. STEM & Industry: Scientists found a light-driven way to produce hydrogen from water without extra metal helpers, and Oregon’s newborn genetic testing effort joins the BRIDGES-NBS study.

Carbon Capture in Oregon: Oregon State University researchers unveiled BVR-X, a carbon-capture material that keeps working in moisture-rich industrial exhaust and can be reused after dozens of cycles. Semiconductors for AI: Applied Materials and Intel are teaming up across Applied’s EPIC Center in Silicon Valley and Intel’s R&D campus in Hillsboro to speed next-gen transistor, interconnect, and advanced packaging work. Newborn genomics in Oregon: Oregon’s newborn screening program is moving toward genome sequencing to expand the number of detectable treatable conditions from about 50 to 700+ through a regional study. Wildlife on Oregon roads: Environment Oregon is recruiting volunteers for a Roadside Wildlife Count, using iNaturalist to track animals hit or seen and feed results into state roadkill and survey planning. Education finance pressure in Portland: Portland Public Schools says it cut $171.8M in services since 2023-24, but projects another $65.2M structural deficit in 2027-28. Data-center backlash and local policy: Reporting highlights how community opposition to data centers is reshaping local decision-making, from oversight to water and power concerns.

Water Affordability: A new analysis of 500 of the biggest U.S. water utilities finds household drinking-water bills rose 62% from 2015 to 2025, outpacing inflation, groceries, and income growth—pushing families to spend more of already-stretched budgets on water. Oregon Health Tech: Oregon’s newborn screening program is set to enroll families in a national study testing whether genome sequencing can be added to routine newborn screening, aiming to expand detection from dozens of conditions to hundreds. Local Education & Community: Eugene 4J School District is taking nominations to rename César Chávez Elementary after a New York Times investigation raised serious allegations about Chávez. Public Safety & Privacy Tech: Lawmakers are pressing the Senate to use “force of law” to rein in Flock Safety surveillance, with concerns about non-crime data collection and federal access. Energy Costs: A think tank projects Oregon households could see some of the biggest energy-cost jumps through 2040 due to federal policy changes affecting clean power and vehicle efficiency. Oregon Tech & Business: Advance Local selected ADvendio to modernize its advertising order management and revenue operations across major OregonLive and sister sites.

Oregon Data Centers: A new flashpoint in Oregon politics: reports say data centers received $450M+ in property tax exemptions in 2026, including about $85M in the Hillsboro area, fueling a grassroots backlash led by 1000 Friends of Oregon and pushing Gov. Tina Kotek to reverse course. Climate & Courts: The U.S. Supreme Court is set to hear a major climate case over whether local courts can order energy companies to pay for weather damage tied to greenhouse gas emissions—potentially reshaping liability and costs nationwide. Ocean Monitoring: After the Trump administration moved to dismantle parts of a $368M ocean monitoring network, a ship has gone back to reinstall monitors off the Pacific, including Oregon waters. Public Health: Seattle-area flu is surging—King County ER visits for influenza jumped to 233 in a September week versus 31 a year earlier—while Oregon’s AG sues to restore science-based childhood vaccine schedules. Biotech Breakthrough (OSU): Oregon State researchers report experimental lipid nanoparticles that deliver mRNA to lung tumors, aiming to fight lung cancer and related muscle wasting. Tech Policy & Privacy: Seattle voted to ban “surveillance pricing” that uses personal data to set grocery prices, and Oregon’s data-center debate continues to collide with local rules and water transparency.

Data Centers & Politics: Oregon’s data center tax breaks are fueling a fast-growing backlash, with residents and groups like 1000 Friends of Oregon pushing back after reports of hundreds of millions in exemptions and local impacts on water and communities. Energy Costs: A new think-tank model says federal energy policy shifts could raise household energy bills across the U.S. by 2040, with Oregon among the states facing roughly $9,000 more. Hydrogen Research: Oregon State University researchers report a light-activated material that can produce hydrogen from water more efficiently, aiming to cut the cost barrier for “green” hydrogen. Cybersecurity & Critical Infrastructure: A new report finds state CIOs increasingly worried about cyberattacks on critical infrastructure, especially for smaller local governments and special districts. Surveillance Tech in Court: A federal judge ruled warrantless searches of Flock license-plate reader data violated the Fourth Amendment, throwing out drug evidence. Public Safety & Local Tech: The Oregon Fire Protection District finished a $4.1M station expansion with faster dispatch alerting to reduce response delays. STEM in Oregon Schools: Portland Community College students helped develop a hands-on organic chemistry distillation experiment, bringing more lab-style research into community-college classrooms.

Energy Policy Impact: A new Energy Innovation model says federal energy changes since Jan. 2025 will raise household energy costs everywhere by 2040, with $920B in added spending and big GDP and healthcare losses. Coastal Climate Watch: NOAA warns warm-water Kelvin waves will lift West Coast sea levels by up to a foot this month, raising erosion and flooding risk for Oregon and Washington through winter. Ocean Research Funding: After the Trump administration dismantled part of a $368M ocean monitoring network, a 238-foot ship is reinstalling the first batch of deep-sea instruments off the Pacific Northwest. Hydrogen Breakthrough (Oregon State): OSU researchers report a light-driven photocatalyst that makes hydrogen from water, aiming to turn solar energy into cleaner fuel. Local Tech & Power Use: Medford is drafting clearer data center rules as “hyperscale” growth raises concerns about electricity, water cooling, and land impacts. STEM in Oregon: Portland Community College students helped build a new three-component organic chemistry distillation experiment. Community Science for Kids: Children’s Museum of Central Oregon brings a Mobile Museum pop-up to Discovery Corner starting Oct. 3. Public Safety Tech Debate: A Portland-area teen faces domestic terrorism charges after mixing chemicals in a school cafeteria.

Ocean Science & Climate: After months of dismantling, a 238-foot ship is reinstalling the first batch of Oregon-linked deep-sea ocean monitors from a 900-instrument network, restoring tools that track currents, ecosystems, and climate signals as a strong El Niño ramps up. Privacy & AI Surveillance: Oregon’s Sen. Jeff Merkley and Sen. Bernie Sanders back the “Ban Flock Act,” targeting federal use of automatic license plate reader data tied to Flock-style camera networks. Local Tech Governance: Medford officials are debating clearer zoning and guidelines for future data centers amid concerns over power, water use, and environmental impacts. Health Policy: Oregon retailers and suppliers warn a federal change will effectively shut down much of the hemp CBD product market. Autonomous Tech & Monitoring: A new report highlights how robotaxis rely on interior cameras and sensors, raising fresh questions about constant rider oversight. Marine Hazards: A “Kelvin wave” tied to El Niño is expected to raise West Coast sea levels by up to 30 cm, increasing erosion and flooding risk for Oregon and Washington. Workforce & Education: Oregon Tech and Rogue Community College launch a 2+2 pathway to deliver bachelor-level manufacturing engineering coursework locally.

Public Health: San Francisco reported its first flu death of the 2026–27 season, urging residents to get updated flu shots and COVID vaccines (both can be taken the same visit). Local Governance: Tigard voters will choose among eight candidates for three City Council seats, with ballots mailed Oct. 14 and Election Day Nov. 3. Sustainable Food & Climate: A new report says regenerative farming can match conventional yields and profits while storing far more carbon in soil, with Oregon hazelnut and vegetable farms highlighted. Wildlife Conservation: A California zoo program has released 212 captive-bred Western snowy plovers, helping restart breeding after decades of absence. AI & Privacy Policy: Oregon Sen. Jeff Merkley and others backed the “Ban Flock Act,” aiming to block federal use of automated license plate readers and related funding. Education & Workforce: Oregon Tech and Rogue Community College launched a 2+2 pathway to bring manufacturing engineering bachelor’s coursework to the Rogue Valley. Higher Ed Tech: EDUCAUSE leaders say AI in higher education is shifting from hype to practical uses like procurement and student retention.

Wildfire Tech: A new satellite constellation called FireSat is being built specifically to spot small, early wildfires from space, aiming to give firefighters near real-time data before blazes explode. Public Health & Oregon: Oregon is among states facing higher energy costs through 2040 under recent federal policy shifts, with a think tank projecting thousands more per household. Healthcare Policy: The Treasury has started sending one-time $500 Affordable Care Act refund checks to more than 950,000 enrollees across 30 states, tied to HealthCare.gov “user fees.” Local Environment: Volunteers and trail workers in Oregon’s Blue Mountains are keeping remote wilderness paths passable, cutting logs and maintaining routes that hikers and riders rely on. Oregon Science: Researchers reported two new sea spider species from the Salish Sea, described as tiny, red-eyed “horror movie” lookalikes. Defense Tech: The U.S. Air Force is seeking a missile warning system for its F-15EX fleet, with integration planned for rapid upgrades.

Aviation Safety: Epic Aircraft says the FAA has certified Garmin Autoland on its E1000 AX, enabling automatic landings if the pilot becomes incapacitated—an Oregon-made step toward safer single-engine operations. Climate & Courts: Oregon joined a coalition suing the Trump administration over EPA rollbacks of greenhouse gas limits for coal and gas power plants, arguing the changes unlawfully gut major climate protections. Oregon Wildlife Management: Oregon contractors began killing invasive barred owls in the Elliott State Research Forest to protect northern spotted owls, following federal management guidance. Higher Ed Tech: EDUCAUSE released its 2027 Top 10 priorities, emphasizing faster change management and future-proofing students amid shifting research funding and enrollment pressures. Biotech/Immunology: Pfizer reported Phase 2 results for tilrekimig in atopic dermatitis, with EASI-75 gains versus placebo. Workforce & Research: Two Monmouth College neuroscience students landed Oregon and New York research experiences, highlighting hands-on pathways into Alzheimer’s and human-centered AI. Public Records Fight: Eugene is facing scrutiny after a records request about a police officer’s alleged misconduct was priced at about $2.5M in staff time.

AI & Energy: A new study says AI data centers run by major tech firms could hit about 1% of global electricity demand by 2030, as power use climbs fast with generative workloads. Oregon Tech Policy: Nvidia’s “AI ambassadors” push for Oregon schools and colleges has been paused, leaving at least one Southern Oregon University applicant waiting since a webinar last year. Local Tech & Infrastructure: Hillsboro is weighing data-center growth against industrial land priorities, highlighting how Oregon cities are balancing jobs with infrastructure strain. Wildfire Tech: A wave of wildfire startups is moving from response to prevention, using sensors, AI forecasting, new materials, and satellite-linked systems to spot and stop fires earlier. Health Tech & Research: The CDC is trying to relocate about 130 lab monkeys to sanctuaries as it winds down primate testing, but placement costs and options remain unclear. Privacy & Surveillance: The ACLU sued San Diego over automated license plate readers, arguing the cameras track far more than plates and violate privacy rights. Education & Work: Oregon State University research finds four-day school weeks are spreading in cash-strapped districts, with potential tradeoffs for students.