Crane Engages in Cooperative Technology Transfer
Navy NewsStand
Story Number: NNS080913-31
Release Date: 9/13/2008 2:19:00 PM
By Crane Division, Naval Surface Warfare Center Corporate Communications
CRANE, Ind. (NNS) -- Crane Division, Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC Crane) has partnered with Growth Alliance for a Greater Evansville (GAGE) to build better relations between the government and the private sector.
The Partnership Intermediary Agreement (PIA) is a technology transfer agreement that will enable southern Indiana businesses to benefit from NSWC Crane's science and technology expertise as well as allow utilization of facilities and equipment.
"We have world class facilities and equipment that can be made available to help a company commercialize their products," said Capt. Charles LaSota, NSWC Crane commanding officer during the Technology Transfer Ceremony in Evansville, Ind. on Sept. 3. "This partnership is the starting point to make known the access that is available for businesses and universities of the Evansville, Indiana region to Crane."
LaSota explained to the audience that NSWC Crane has 1,800 scientists, engineers and technicians who are working on solving technical problems for the nation's warfighters. Through this agreement, NSWC Crane will make more than 70 patents available to businesses and provide research assistance and access to personnel and resources.
NSWC Crane Tech Engagement Officer John Dement explained that for NSWC Crane to continue to be successful, the installation looks for opportunities to partner with local companies and universities with a vested interest in technology. NSWC Crane studied and examined existing partnerships and other partnership models to conclude that it could make a positive impact in the region by allowing utilization of Crane resources. That is where GAGE came in.
"We look very enthusiastically to this partnership with GAGE to help you help us do our mission of supporting the warfighter," said Dement. "We do this by making available our collective resources so that companies and universities in conjunction with their technology development can make our products perform better and be more cost effective."
"This partnership has the potential to be the starting point for an unprecedented economic transformation in this region," said Joe Wallace, GAGE president and chief executive officer. "There are so many different applications where the same science can be used utilized."
The PIA with GAGE will provide an opportunity for local businesses within 28 counties and three states to develop technology and create new jobs. In the Evansville region, GAGE will serve as the manager for NSWC Crane's patent portfolio and work to create additional cooperative research and testing agreements with businesses utilizing NSWC Crane's patents and resources. GAGE will also connect businesses with specific patents and technology to find ways to apply military research for non-military use. By NSWC Crane providing access to advanced technology and skilled personnel, the goal is to increase the possibility that companies can develop new products to grow their businesses.
"It's quite amazing to think that local businesses will be able to harness this technology and market it for practical purposes, opening up the possibilities for significant job creation and wealth creation in southwestern Indiana," said Jonathan Weinzapfel, mayor of Evansville.
"...someone is going to look back at this moment and see that this was a genesis of an idea that created new business and hundreds of jobs and untold wealth here. That's the success story we want to see happen in the future."
NSWC Crane's focus is to support the warfighter by leveraging our technical capabilities to provide innovative, leading edge technical solutions for the rapidly changing combat environment.
For more news from Crane Division, Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC Crane), visit www.navy.mil/local/crane/.
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