State Defense Office Lands National Award
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowThe Indiana Office of Defense Development has earned the 2016 State and Local Economic Development Award from the Federal Laboratory Consortium. The award recognizes economic development groups that partner with federal laboratories to spark growth.
The Federal Laboratory Commission is a nationwide network of more than 300 laboratories, agencies and research centers. The organization aims to accelerate the movement of new technology from laboratories to the commercial marketplace.
The office earned the award along with Brooke Pyne from Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane Division, Cliff Wojtalewicz from Purdue University, Daniela Vidal from the University of Southern Indiana and Norm Hedges from Indiana University. The award recognizes the group’s efforts with the Rural Indiana Technology Commercialization Initiative, designed to help commercialize NSWC Crane Division innovations.
RITCI also worked with university programs including Purdue’s Foundry, IU’s Law Clinic and USI’s Technology Commercialization Academy. The effort has resulted in two new startup companies, new patent licenses on Crane innovations and new R&D partnerships between Crane and area companies.
In a release from the IODD, Director Duane Embree said, "It’s an honor to be recognized by the FLC for technology transfer. FLC has been a champion and ‘seal of approval’ for technology transfer efforts across America for many years, and has helped policy makers and community leaders understand what it takes to drive successful commercialization activities."