We partner with Partnership Intermediaries (PIs), or organizations that work with small businesses to broaden their opportunities with the AFRL. Partnership intermediaries hold PIAs, or Partnership Intermediary Agreements, that allow them to engage small businesses on behalf of the government to accelerate technology transfer and licensing.
Academic Partnership Engagement Experiment (APEX)
The Academic Partnership Engagement Experiment (APEX) cultivates innovation by expanding the American research enterprise for the USAF. APEX does this by engaging and collaborating with innovators across academia, industry and the Department of Defense (DoD) and who possess capabilities of interest to the USAF; utilizing data analytics to identify transformational operational defense solutions in academia, industry and government sectors; providing high-touch coaching for business startups and proposals; and engaging with DoD programs to connect universities, businesses and government entities in a way that moves defense technology from discovery to reality.
Bricc
The BRICC, as part of the Partnership Intermediary Agreement (PIA) between AFOSR and VT-ARC, offers an environment and suite of services that foster meaningful and impactful initiatives and engagement opportunities to further the overall AFOSR mission of finding and funding revolutionary basic science.
Catalyst Campus
Catalyst Campus is a collaborative ecosystem with best-in-class amenities where industry, small business, workforce training, entrepreneurs, startups and venture capital intersect with the aerospace and defense industry to create community, spark innovation and stimulate business growth. We serve as a trusted agnostic partner that facilitates connections to initiate, cultivate and enhance the public-private partnerships.
Cyber Innovation Center
The Cyber Innovation Center (CIC), located in Bossier City, Louisiana, is the anchor of the 3,000 acre National Cyber Research Park and serves as the catalyst for the development and expansion of a knowledge-based workforce throughout the region. As a 501c3 not-for-profit corporation, the CIC fosters collaboration among its partners and accelerates technology, research, and development. One of its primary missions is to develop a sustainable knowledge-based workforce that can support the growing needs of government, industry, and academia.
DEFENSEWERX
Defensewerx is a neutral facilitator and trusted counselor, connecting a national network of individuals, businesses, educators and government organizations to enable creative and integrated solutions for our DoD customers.
Doolittle Institute
The Doolittle Institute, an AFRL Innovation Institute, supports the Air Force Research Labs Munitions Directorate by working to license and commercialize AFRL/RW technologies in the private sector, enable rapid technology delivery to the warfighter, identify and foster new R&D partnerships and develop AFRL’s current and future workforce. The Doolittle Institute is a member of the Defensewerx Family.