Inspired by the momentum of one of Mississippi's fastest growing industries, the 2025 Innovation Conference welcomed approximately 600 attendees on April 2nd and 3rd at the Nissan North America Plant in Canton, MS. Now in its 12th year, the conference featured 48 exhibitors from across the U.S., each showcasing cutting-edge advancements designed to enhance quality and productivity in the manufacturing industry.
Industry leaders Nikon Metrology, Boston Dynamics, and Atlas Copco brought innovative technologies to life through live demonstrations. Breakout sessions explored relevant topics that focused on the deployment of new technology, the impact of 3D technologies in improving efficiency and detection of quality defects, the use of digital twin and AI to empower the industry, and the use of low-code technologies to integrate data intelligence into manufacturing.
New additions to this year's event included friendly competitions among exhibitors, such as Best Visual Appeal, Best Engagement, Best Content, Best Staff, and Best Overall Impact booth awards. A Passport Event was held featuring drawings for prizes to encourage attendee participation and vendor engagement. Prizes and donations were provided by Scotsman Manufacturing, A'marie's Bath Flower Shop, Compass Point Blend, The Great Mississippi Tea Company, Mississippi Miracle Clay, SoDelta Candle Company, Viking Range, Nissan, and MSU CAVS-Extension.
Mississippi State University's Center for Advanced Vehicular Systems - Extension (CAVS-E) and the Nissan North America - Canton plant coordinate this annual event. Exhibitor sponsors for the 2025 conference included LightGuide, Systematic Inc., Zebra Technologies, Simple Green, Advex AI, Crawford Electric Supply, and Nikon Metrology. Conference sponsors included Nissan, Mississippi Automotive Manufacturer's Association (MAMA), Mississippi Manufacturers Association-Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MMA-MEP) and CAVS-Extension.
To learn more about the event and stay informed about updates for the 2026 Innovation Conference, please visit the Innovation Conference website.
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