MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — A Morgantown-based defense contractor just marked their one-year anniversary with Saab.
The Civil-Military Innovation Institute (CMI2) signed a collaboration agreement with Saab in 2022, combining their expertise of defense innovation with advanced training solutions. CMI2 focuses on experimentation and training, while Saab focuses more on improving Soldier and warfighter readiness by creating more advanced military training systems.
“Our collaboration with CMI2 combines our world leading military training solutions and their capabilities in experimentation to create something truly unique – a live-training environment that forces adaptive thinking to fulfill our customers’ unique and ever evolving training requirements,” said Erik Smith, President and CEO of Saab in the U.S. “I’m proud of what our two organizations have been able to accomplish in such a short amount of time.”
CMI2 conducts their training at its Adaptive Experimentation Facility in Fola, West Virginia. The Fola site allows Soldiers, Marines, Special Operators and other groups to run through live free-play events using the new technologies developed.
“The beauty of this collaboration is that CMI2 and Saab are implementing a one-of-a-kind offering that includes the ability to perform technology experimentation and advanced training in the same location,” said CMI2 founder Dr. Zenovy Wowczuk. “This collaboration also includes creating a joint office and innovation facility at the Fola site.”
The Adaptive Experimentation Facility was built on a reclaimed coal mine property. CMI2 transformed the area to create an environment built for testing the advanced military technology and allow for various exercises to be conducted.
“The Adaptive Experimentation Facility is not your cookie cutter test range or training facility. We have created a truly niche facility and a new way for Soldiers to prepare for the next fight,” Wowczuk said. “The combined resources of Saab and CMI2 will truly make Fola a distinctive destination with exceptional capabilities.”
Gov. Jim Justice sees it as a unique, one-of-a-kind operation.
“CMI2 not only established a collaboration with an international company the caliber of Saab, but they have found a leading defense company who’s also investing in West Virginia and hiring West Virginians,” said Governor Justice. “Together, these two companies are building a one-of-a-kind military capability right here in the Mountain State, which will no doubt be the premier training space for the next decade.”