An agreement among WestGate Authority, Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane Division (NSWC Crane), Purdue University and Purdue Research Foundation to pivot patented technologies developed for the U.S. Department of Defense has shown strong adaptability to serve other societal purposes in the public sector.
“Purdue and Crane are already doing this through our previous agreement, but this new expanded collaboration called Purdue@WestGate takes our commercialization, startup creation activities and educational opportunities to Southern Indiana,” said Dan Hasler, chief entrepreneurial officer of the Purdue Research Foundation. “With this new partnership, Purdue now has a physical presence in the WestGate Technology Park facility where we can offer unparalleled services for entrepreneurs, innovators and collaborators.”
The Purdue Office of Technology Commercialization signed an agreement in 2014 with NSWC Crane to co-market available technologies including a technology transfer collaboration in 2015, 2016 award for its technology transfer partnership and a 2017 technology showcase.
"Our ongoing relationship with Purdue has been beneficial for everyone involved," said Capt. Mark Oesterreich (O-strike), NSWC Crane’s Commanding Officer. "Purdue’s physical presence in the park should foster collaboration that will lead to support of both the region’s and our innovation pipelines."
Examples of Crane technologies being marketed through Purdue include a real-time vehicle damage detection system to identify damage to aircraft, commercial vehicles and space-based systems and a signal transmission surveillance system to help first responders and others pick up RF signals and identify locations needing assistance on a digital map. Click here to view other available technologies based on NSWC Crane research and marketed through Purdue Office of Technology Commercialization.
“The state of Indiana is a hotbed of innovation, commercialization and startup creation and combining resources and talent from Purdue, Crane and Southern Indiana will help move these life-changing technologies to the public at an even faster rate,” Indiana Secretary of Commerce Jim Schellinger said. “We look forward to supporting even greater collaborations across the state that can build economic development and create more jobs for Hoosiers.”
The Purdue and WestGate agreement includes startup creation assistance from Purdue Foundry; increased tech transfer support from Purdue Office of Technology Commercialization; and company incubation space and amenities from WestGate@Crane Technology Park and Purdue Research Park.
“The talent and opportunity is already well recognized in Southern Indiana, and we look forward to bringing the Purdue Foundry and its programming and networking opportunities to the area,” said Greg Deason, senior vice president of Purdue Research Foundation and director of innovation and commercialization for the Burton D. Morgan Center for Entrepreneurship in Purdue University’s Discovery Park. “Working with the WestGate Authority and Crane, we can expect a strong impact and expedient results from this collaboration.”
WestGate Authority covers the WestGate@Crane Technology Park, a certified tri-county technology park located in Greene, Daviess and Martin counties, which includes the Battery Innovation Center. WestGate is the only multi-county tech park in Indiana.
“Purdue has several successful tech parks across Indiana and having them at WestGate is monumental for everyone in the area,” said John Mensch, WestGate Authority president. “The whole region is excited for what this means in tech research and commercialization, economic growth and educational opportunities.”
Purdue Polytechnic Institute will provide classes for degree or continuing education and Purdue’s Krannert School of Management will establish an NSF Midwest I-Corps™ Node.
“The educational opportunities we plan to provide will complement the other initiatives and programs already being done or slated to begin,” said Gary Bertoline, dean of the Purdue Polytechnic Institute. “We will focus on technology and innovation and include the location as part of the technology satellite programming we provide to nine other locations across Indiana.”
The just published Purdue Foundry and Purdue Office of Technology Commercialization Startup Guide: WestGate Edition is available for innovators and entrepreneurs in the area. The 26-page booklet provides information on technology transfer law and policy, types of licensing agreements, entrepreneurial considerations, securing funding and additional resources.
Other partners with WestGate include the University of Southern Indiana's SwISTEM Resource Center, an equipment lending service located in the technology park, and Radius Indiana, a regional partnership encompassing eight counties in South Central Indiana: Crawford, Daviess, Dubois, Greene, Lawrence, Martin, Orange and Washington.
“With this agreement, we are building on the hard work of many, many people throughout Southern Indiana and we all welcome Purdue to the area with its successful startup programs,” said Becky Skillman, chairman of the board for Radius. “We look forward to the ‘early wins’ that will soon be generated from this collaboration.”
About WestGate
Many professionals, elected officials, business leaders, and civic figures have worked for the development of a technology park adjacent to NSA Crane Division and CAAA. WestGate@Crane Technology Park collaborates with numerous tenant, and a variety of organizations and businesses such as local and state economic development corporations, NSWC Crane Division, I-69 Innovation Corridor, Indiana Office of Defense Development, and WorkOne. WestGate@Crane Tech Park is the ideal location for business to grow and thrive due to its very strategic location.
About NSWC Crane
NSWC Crane is a naval laboratory and a field activity of Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) with focus areas in Expeditionary Warfare, Strategic Missions and Electronic Warfare. The warfare center is responsible for multi-domain, multi- spectral, full life cycle support of technologies and systems enhancing capability to today's warfighter.
The Warfare Center's research and development efforts support the Warfighter by providing capabilities and resources to advance technologies for the military. The mission of NSWC Crane is to provide acquisition engineering, in-service engineering and technical support for sensors, electronics, electronic warfare and special warfare weapons.
About Purdue Office of Technology Commercialization
The Purdue Office of Technology Commercialization operates one of the most comprehensive technology transfer programs among leading research universities in the U.S. Services provided by this office support the economic development initiatives of Purdue University and benefit the university's academic activities. Purdue Research Foundation manages the office. For more information on licensing a Purdue innovation, contact the Office of Technology Commercialization at innovation@prf.org
About Purdue Foundry
The Purdue Foundry is an entrepreneurship and commercialization hub in Discovery Park's Burton D. Morgan Center for Entrepreneurship whose professionals help Purdue innovators create startups. Managed by the Purdue Research Foundation, the Purdue Foundry received the 2014 Incubator Network of the Year by the National Business Incubation Association for its work in entrepreneurship. For more information about funding and investment opportunities in startups based on a Purdue innovation, contact the Purdue Foundry at foundry@prf.org.