IU, Crane extend strategic partnership
Subscriber Benefit
As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe Now
Indiana University on Monday announced an extension of its strategic partnership with Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division. The university says the partnership is designed to create a pathway for technology developed at Crane to move through the commercialization pipeline and increase the number of startup and licensing deals for both partners. The partnership was first established in 2012 through the signing of an intermediary agreement, which was renewed in 2017.
The extension was marked by a ceremonial signing event at Naval Support Activity Crane, located about 40 miles southwest of Bloomington. IU Bloomington Provost Rahul Shrivastav and NSWC commanding officer Capt. Thomas McKay signed the extension before touring the base.
IU says over the last 10 years, the partnership has created collaborative efforts in areas such as high-performance computing, artificial intelligence, machine learning, cybersecurity and regional economic development.
“The partnership renewal is the latest in a recent series of IU collaborative activities with Crane that continue to link IU’s teaching, research and development resources with initiatives at Crane that are critical to strengthening national defense and security, advancing economic development and improving the well-being of citizens of Indiana and beyond,” the university said in a news release. “These activities have come at a time when the defense sector of the 11-country Indiana Uplands region, which includes Monroe County, home to IU’s Bloomington campus, is experiencing sizeable growth.”
IU says the partnership also strengthens the region’s business development and job creation efforts.
NSWC Crane employs more than 3,800 workers, about 2,500 of which are scientists, engineers and technicians.
Among the additional collaborative efforts between IU and NSWC Crane is a permanent, shared laboratory space on the Bloomington campus, plans for which were announced in 2020, to allow for more work on engineering, informatics and computing.
In January 2021, IU launched the Academic Accelerator, which is designed to promote the development of new high-tech ventures, including within the state’s innovation defense ecosystem at NSWC Crane.