Wright Brothers Institute, Navy look to provide max return on commercial investments for military
NewsApril 25, 2018
DAYTON, Ohio. Officials at NSWC Crane and Wright Brothers Institute (WBI) signed a new Partnership Intermediary Agreement (PIA) to solidify a collaborative framework that will allow the two organizations to provide maximum return on commercialization investments for both the Air Force and the Navy.
The agreement will focus on aligning complimentary technologies, sourcing commercial markets, connecting technical experts, and engaging manufacturers to further commercialization efforts for all parties. Joint technology showcases, produced in both cities, will help form new collaborations and awareness for technologists, as well as investors.
“This agreement allows us to quickly bundle relevant pieces of intellectual property to create more attractive licensing opportunities, an effort that will benefit both AFRL and NSWC Crane,” says WBI Executive Director Les McFawn.
Both organizations have strong partnerships with universities including the University of Dayton, Wright State University, and Purdue University. The Purdue Research Foundation’s Office of Technology Commercialization (OTC) operates one of the most comprehensive technology transfer programs among leading research universities in the U.S. OTC has more than 400 innovations available for licensing and commercialization that represent every industry sector.
“This new initiative creates excellent development potential and new opportunity to bring innovative technologies to commercial markets,” says Meghan Sheehan, WBI’s Director of Technology Transfer and Commercialization.
“This unique agreement connects a region that is leveraging current technology transfer initiatives with the Air Force and aligns to the core technology areas of NSWC Crane,” says Brooke Pyne, NSWC Crane’s Technology Transfer Manager/SBIR Program Manager. “This strategic partnership will strengthen regional collaboration by fostering navy commercialization with research and development efforts that support the warfighter.”
While leadership grapples with budgetary concerns, partnerships like the one between WBI & NSWC Crane comes at no additional cost to the Air Force or the Navy. “This PIA builds on work that we’re already doing. We’re joining forces to leverage that work, build upon it and make it even more impactful,” McFawn adds.
