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Partnership Intermediary Agreements (PIAs)

Many federal laboratories have Partnership Intermediary Agreements (PIAs) with entities that facilitate joint projects and accelerate technology transfer between the lab and private companies. These intermediaries help companies to identify federal technologies that can be licensed and commercialized. They also work to increase the likelihood of successful cooperative activities between the lab and small businesses.

DoD Level Partnership Intermediaries

TechLink, Montana State University

TechLink is the Department of Defense’s primary national technology transfer partner. Our unmatched technology licensing expertise is grounded in over 20 years of partnership with DoD laboratories; whereby more than 1,000 inventions have been transferred to industry partners so meaningful products and services can be realized. TechLink reviews all DoD IP and strategically pairs those commercially viable technologies with capable industry partners. We’re committed to helping national investment in research and development come full circle, enabling positive economic impact and ensuring innovative capabilities reach the warfighter. View the database of all U.S. Air Force technologies with licensing potential or learn more at the link below.

Website: http://techlinkcenter.org

MilTech, Montana State University

MilTech is an Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) National Technology Transition Partnership Intermediary (PI) that accelerates the transition of new technologies to the US Warfighter. Since its establishment in 2004, MilTech has worked with all four military branches, OSD, and joint and special programs on hundreds of projects and technologies.

MilTech assists DoD programs with technology scouting and market research; design, design review and prototyping; independent government cost estimates; cost reduction recommendations; manufacturing capability assessments and reviews; vendor/partner scouting identification and assessment; and expertise to IPTs and product design teams.

Through these core competencies MilTech is able to reduce technology development, delivery time and life cycle costs, connect the DoD to non-traditional vendors, improve design capabilities and user acceptance, and assess the manufacturability of innovative technologies.

Website: http://www.montana.edu/miltech/

Air Force Partnership Intermediaries

Basic Research Innovation Collaboration Center (BRICC)

Powered by VT-ARC, the Basic Research Innovation Collaboration Center (BRICC) provides collaborative environments and data analytic services that support AFOSR’s mission to discover, shape, and champion basic research that profoundly impacts the future Air Force. The BRICC specializes in data-driven approaches to quantitatively assess global S&T communities, research and technology trends, and innovation capacity. Our data analytics provide strategies and insights that empower AFOSR’s collaborative discovery, technology transition and technology transfer (T2), and workforce development. The BRICC aims to foster outreach, collaboration, and strategic partnerships across government, academia, and industry.

Website: https://briccdc.com/

RTI Innovation Advisors

RTI Innovation Advisors is a business unit of RTI International (RTI), an independent nonprofit research institute that was founded in 1958 with support from North Carolina government, education, and business leaders. Today, RTI is a leading applied research organization with over 5,700 employees across 25 locations worldwide, making it one of the largest current Partnership Intermediaries. RTI’s government innovation support dates to the 1960’s, when NASA contracted RTI to support its technology transfer efforts. Leveraging its extensive government innovation experience and global networks, RTI assists government agencies by actively marketing federally-funded technologies and IP to find partners to license and commercialize inventions; training aspiring entrepreneurs and researchers on start-up methodologies to identify and pitch their innovations to investors; evaluating regional innovation ecosystems and identifying best practices to spur growth; and hosting events to showcase technologies and accelerate technology transfer and commercialization efforts.

Website: https://rtiinnovationadvisors.org/

Wright Brothers Institute

Founded in 2002, Wright Brothers Institute has been setting the bar with a proven track record in innovation; from early problem exploration to final end-user application. We specialize in innovation, commercialization, and collaboration to reduce the risks associated with technology development and accelerate game-changing capability to the warfighter.

Website: https://www.wbi-innovates.com

NYSTEC

NYSTEC is an independent technology consulting company based in Rome, New York, with offices in Albany and New York City. We have a deep understanding of the industries in which our clients work, including healthcare, public safety/first responders, education, and intelligent infrastructure. Our cross-industry service offerings include privacy and security, business transformation, data management, digital learning, network engineering and support, management and quality, and technology acquisition.

One of our primary goals is to help foster an innovation ecosystem across the state and beyond. We empower technology leaders and visionary thinkers by leveraging our statewide network to facilitate connections among entrepreneurs, academic organizations, and government agencies.

As an Air Force Partnership Intermediary, we perform services for the Air Force Research Laboratory Information Directorate (AFRL/RI) that advance critical technology by connecting industry partners with the research community. We are committed to serving as an outreach arm by creating awareness of Air Force T3 opportunities in New York State and across the nation.

Website: https://www.nystec.com/

The Griffiss Institute

The Griffiss Institute delivers a responsive and flexible business environment to enable the collaboration of international/domestic industry and academia with the Air Force Research Laboratory Information Directorate. This business environment enhances the facilitation of research that leads to new solutions in information sciences, spinning out new business opportunities and providing a dynamic environment enabling the advancement of the future scientific and engineering workforce. Through the Innovare Advancement Center, the Griffiss Institute built a magnetic ecosystem in which the world’s leading scientific and entrepreneurial talent, tackle the country’s greatest challenges to national security and economic competitiveness.

Website: https://www.griffissinstitute.org
Website: https://www.innovare.org/

Doolittle Institute

The Doolittle Institute’s mission is modeled after the rapid innovation and problem solving necessary to modify and deploy B-25 bombers from aircraft carriers at the onset of World War II, in what has become known as the Doolittle Raid. Today, the Doolittle Institute, through a Partnership Intermediary Agreement, provides Technology Transfer and Transition, innovation and collaboration, and workforce development solutions for the AFRL Munitions Directorate. The Doolittle Institute delivers an adjunct workforce team trained in technology commercialization to guide and assist technology transfer for the AFRL Munitions Directorate. As a PIA, the Doolittle Institute provides expertise and experience that is often difficult for a federal laboratory to attract and recruit. Its team brings experience as entrepreneurs, engineers, veterans, business managers, and industry leaders.

Website: https://doolittleinstitute.org

MGMWERX

MGMWERX was created under a Partnership Intermediary Agreement between DEFENSEWERX and the Air Force Research Laboratory to align with the education initiatives of Air University. MGMWERX augments Air University programs to enhance production of high-quality, innovative research and ideas that span issues of importance to the Air Force. Through MGMWERX, Air University students are exposed to a broad cross-section of industry, academia, as well as non-traditional commercial partners, to be better prepared to deal with an uncertain future.

Website: https://mgmwerx.org/

The Academic Partnership Engagement Experiment (APEX)

The Academic Partnership Engagement Experiment (APEX) cultivates innovation by expanding the American research enterprise in a way that moves defense technology from discovery to reality. APEX connects academic innovators with the Department of the Air Force and industry and eliminates barriers in accelerating the transition of science and technology solutions into transformational U.S. Air Force operational capabilities.

APEX is a Partnership Intermediary Agreement between the Department of the Air Force and Parallax Advanced Research. The APEX mission supports the United States Air Force Science & Technology 2030 Strategy.

Website: https://apex-innovates.org/

Catalyst Campus

Catalyst Campus is a collaborative ecosystem where industry, small business, workforce training, entrepreneurs, startups and venture capital intersect with Colorado’s aerospace and defense industry to create community, spark innovation and stimulate business growth. CCTI’s PIA supports the Air Force and Space Force with accelerator programs for nontraditional companies to utilize for mentorship and training. The end goal is to boost the growth of relevant technologies and quickly determine which are self-sustainable in a market-driven economy. In addition, CCTI supports the Space Force with an industry-led, collaborative facility where small businesses, universities, and other non-federal entities can demonstrate capabilities and receive feedback from prospective Government and commercial customers.

Website: https://www.catalystcampus.org/

NEW MEXICO TECH UNIVERSITY

New Mexico Tech is a research- and teaching-oriented university focused on science and engineering. New Mexico Tech has a PIA with AFRL in New Mexico to support tech transfer, innovation, and workforce development programs for the Air Force and Space Force. New Mexico Tech also has a separate PIA with AFRL for K-12 STEM, with the goal of increasing the number of qualified candidates for STEM-related careers, and an emphasis on increasing the diversity of applicants ready to enter the STEM workforce.

Website: https://afrlnm.com/stem/

EXPLORA

Explora is an innovative experiential learning center located in the heart of Old Town Albuquerque Explora supports AFRL in New Mexico with STEM learning programs for future science leaders, and with STEM professional development programs for teachers.

Website: https://www.explora.us/

NEW MEXICO TRADE ALLIANCE

The New Mexico Trade Alliance develops, plans and executes several innovative programs and initiatives to assist AFRL-NM with its technology transfer objectives to form and maintain productive technology and collaborative partnerships with small business, industry, academia and the greater tech community.

Website: https://www.nmtradealliance.org/

C-TRAC

The Center for Technology Research and Commercialization promotes cooperative activities between the United States Air Force Academy and Intermediary which aid in executing the mission of Air Force CyberWorx, and in developing T3 opportunities and processes as well as identifying small businesses or educational institutions that need or can make demonstrably productive use of technology-related assistance from a federal laboratory.

Website: https://c-trac.org/