Navy's Crane lab, IU enter collaborative research agreement to enhance private-sector opportunities
Indiana University has entered into a collaborative research and development agreement with the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division, that will allow IU campuses to work more closely with Crane and with private-sector partners to transfer technology to the private sector.
By acting as partnership intermediaries, IU and the IU Research and Technology Corp. will be in a position to identify both private-sector and university collaborators that can transfer technology to and from the Crane federal laboratory with the goal of advancing research that leads to better products and business and employment opportunities.
"This is an exceptional opportunity to promote entrepreneurship, product development and transfer through an agreement that recognizes the importance of collaboration in creative, scientific and technical discovery," IU President Michael A. McRobbie said. "As the largest employers in the region, IU and Crane make perfect partners as we continue to use our joint resources and expertise to grow economic development opportunities across Indiana."
The new Partnership Intermediary Agreement officially allows Crane and IU to exchange technology-related assistance and include private-sector partners, which Crane cannot do alone.
By identifying IU as a partnership intermediary -- a not-for-profit owned or funded in whole or part by state or local government that assists with small business firms or education institutions that need or can make demonstrably productive use of technology-related assistance from a federal laboratory -- Crane can then provide information on shareable research and development capabilities, resources and support partners' programs.
IU and IURTC will now be able to help companies submit technical proposals to funding programs, showcase lab inventions for licensing and collaboration, and then help companies take the next steps to product development. IU will also be able to act as an intermediary to showcase clients' technologies and capabilities that are of interest to Crane.
"This new agreement will allow all parties to focus on the challenges and solutions of deriving the maximum benefit from a collaborative effort focused on developing emerging technology solutions for issues facing government and industry," Crane technical director Duane Embree said.
The agreement will allow IU to more directly interact with third parties on Crane's behalf, including helping companies understand what Crane's needs and interests are and by assisting companies with licensing and collaborating on patents and intellectual property that Crane may have an interest in. IU will also be able to help showcase Crane inventions and provide assistance in developing funding program proposals.
Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane is a federal laboratory of the U.S. Navy about 25 miles southwest of Bloomington that provides multipurpose research and development, manufacturing technology, engineering, testing, manufacturing and Naval fleet support. The lab also has partnership intermediary agreements with Bloomington Economic Development Corp., Crane Technology, Growth Alliance for Greater Evansville, Radius Indiana, Terre Haute Economic Development Corp. and the University of Southern Indiana.
Originally published June 11, 2012.
