PROVIDENCE – The Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division Newport will host one of five “tech bridges” for the U.S. Department of the Navy, NUWC announced Thursday.
The Tech Bridges will partner with the Office of Naval Research and the Navy’s Systems Commands in an attempt to lower barriers that limit external collaboration at the Navy by means of partnerships with startup companies, academia, corporations, small businesses, nonprofits and government entities.
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Each Tech Bridge will focus on Navy-wide issues unique to the site’s expertise and location.
“Division Newport is an ideal site for a Tech Bridge,” said Mary Sylvia, head, Technology Partnership Office. “We have a history of strong partnerships throughout the region, and beyond, to advance our research and technology development. As an example, Innovate Newport, a technology incubator and business accelerator, is a key part of a city of Newport economic-development and job-creating initiative focused on climate change, resilience, cybersecurity and related marine technology. Our engagement with … Newport (and Innovate Newport) is through a Partnership Intermediary Agreement.”
Tech Bridges were launched from NavalX, a program intended to be a “super-connector” for the Department of the Navy workforce, focused on scaling nontraditional agility methods across the department.
“Tech Bridges can create a combustion chamber for innovation. This will allow us to carry across much broader systems, scaling out as a much larger piece,” said James Geurts, assistant secretary of the Navy for research, development and acquisition, in a statement. “Think of it as a franchise model. Each has their own unique flavor, but they do this with a standard of performance. We can take these Tech Bridges and leverage big programs across the Navy.”
The other locations for Tech Bridges will be Keyport, Wash., Crane, Ind., Orlando, Fla., and San Diego.
The Program is designed to eliminate duplication throughout the Navy without changing the identities of various Navy installations.
“Please don’t underestimate the power of this at your local level,” Geurts told regional representatives on a call Sept. 3. “I’m very confident in these five locations as a foundation for us to learn from. It is tremendously powerful for the country for developing talent.”
NUWC Division Newport representatives took the call at Innovate Newport, the new collaborative working space in the former Sheffield School in Newport.
Chris Bergenheim is the PBN web editor. You may reach him at Bergenheim@PBN.com.
