On Sept. 27, leaders from Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division and other Indiana industry and academic partners traveled to Washington, D.C. They briefed representatives from the Office of the Vice President of the United States and the Office of Science and Technology Policy on the innovation ecosystem NSWC Crane has helped develop in Southern Indiana.

Bill Stephan, Indiana University vice president for engagement, was one of the key presenters at the meeting and discussed the extensive range of partnerships between IU and Crane across all commands. Kirk White, IU assistant vice president for strategic partnerships, and Joe Carley, IU associate director for economic development, represented the university at a Congressional Breakfast earlier in the day. Indiana Senator Joe Donnelly, Indiana Senator Todd Young, Indiana Congressman Larry Bucshon, and Indiana Congressman Trey Hollingsworth spoke at the breakfast, which was organized by the Indiana Office of Defense Development.

NSWC Crane is a naval laboratory and a field activity of Naval Sea Systems Command. It is responsible for multidomain, multispectral, full life cycle support of technologies and systems enhancing the capability of today’s warfighter. NSWC Crane has a broad and expansive portfolio consisting of 546 total pieces of intellectual property. Crane also has 162 active technology transfer agreements, with a goal of reaching 200 by 2020.

More information about the Washington, D.C., event is available online.

On Sept. 19, Indiana University and NSWC Crane re-signed a Partnership Intermediary Agreement with the goal of increasing the number of licensing and startup deals for both Crane and IU.