FLC | NSWC-Crane hosts three-day collaborative event

NSWC-Crane hosts three-day collaborative event

February 26, 2020

Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division (NSWC Crane) hosted the National Institute for Undersea Vehicle Technology (NIUVT) during a three-day event in February to strengthen the collaborative partnerships the NSWC calls its Innovation Ecosystem.

Several ecosystem partners attended, including representatives from the Office of Navy Research (ONR), other Navy laboratories, NavalX Tech Bridges, research institutes, and multiple academic entities.

NIUVT is a university-industry partnership between the University of Connecticut (UConn), University of Rhode Island (URI), and General Dynamics Electric Boat (EB). Its objective is to enhance performance and reduce costs of the shipbuilding process while ensuring that advanced technologies are implemented into the next generation and next platform of undersea vehicles.

NIUVT builds upon the experience and expertise of EB, UConn and URI to engage in research, technology transition, and workforce development. NIUVT does this to develop the personnel and knowledge needed to accelerate critical research and enhance U.S. superiority in submarine and other undersea vehicle technologies.

At the February event, collaboration took place with several other organizations: the Midwest Tech Bridge, the 401 Tech Bridge in Newport, Rhode Island; the Northwest Tech Bridge in Keyport, Washington; Naval Undersea Warfare Center, Newport Division (NUWC Newport); NUWC Keyport, NSWC Panama City; Indiana University (IU); and Indiana Innovation Institute (IN3).

The six NavalX Tech Bridges build, enhance, and sustain regional naval innovation ecosystems centered around Navy labs. They work to accelerate technology transition to the warfighter through close collaboration with national and regional partners.

Dr. Kyle Werner, the Director of Engagement at NSWC Crane, says there was great value to bring these entities together.

“We were delighted to host such a diverse group of innovation practitioners to explore different models for innovation” Werner said. “We on a journey to expand and grow our Innovation Ecosystem to enhance our mission through accelerating the development and transition of technology to our end users. The collaborative exchange was bidirectional and introduced new innovative approaches that NSWC Crane can leverage as we continue our journey.”