AFRL’S INNOVATION INSTITUTES
Air Force Innovation Institutes are often physically located near AFRL operating locations and assist AFRL with Innovation, Collaboration, and Technology Transfer. Partnership Intermediary Agreements (PIAs) are organizations that serve as intermediaries that facilitate joint projects and accelerate technology transfer between AFRL and private companies.
Griffiss Institute – Rome, NY: https://www.griffissinstitute.org/
The primary role of the Griffiss Institute is to advocate and facilitate the co-operation of private industry, academia, and the Air Force Research Laboratory Information Directorate, in developing solutions to critical cyber security problems.
Wright Brother’s Institute – Dayton, OH: http://www.wbi-innovates.com/
The Wright Brothers Institute (WBI) is a cutting-edge center for innovation and technology commercialization. WBI provides breakthrough solutions to US Air Force’s most complex initiatives by leveraging resident experts, unique facilities, disruptive innovation processes and extensive networks.
Virginia Tech Applied Research Corp – Basic Research Innovation Collaboration Center – Arlington, VA: https://vt-arc.org/bricc/
Powered by VT-ARC, the Basic Research Innovation Collaboration Center (BRICC) provides collaborative environments and data analytic services that support the Air Force Office of Scientific Research’s mission to discover, shape, and champion basic research that profoundly impacts the future Air Force.
Purdue Research Foundation – West Lafayette, IN: https://www.prf.org/
The Purdue Research Foundation holds a partnership intermediary agreement with AFRL to accelerate the commercialization process and support activities to move innovations to the public.
Academic Partnership Engagement Experiment (APEX) – Dayton, Ohio: https://apex-innovates.org/
The USAF Academic Partnership Engagement Experiment (APEX) Partnership Intermediary 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) 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.
DefenseWerx – Various Locations: http://defensewerx.org/
DefenseWerx and their innovation hubs are the catalyst for decisive innovation between the private sector and armed forces.
Doolittle Institute – Niceville, FL: https://doolittleinstitute.org/
The Doolittle Institute, an AFRL Innovation Institute, supports AFRL’s Munition’s Directorate by working to license and commercialize AFRL 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.
MGMWERX – Montgomery, AL: https://mgmwerx.org/
MGMWERX was created under a Partnership Intermediary Agreement between DEFENSEWERX and the Air Force Research Laboratory to align with the education initiatives of Air University. MGMWERX augments ongoing Air University programs to enhance production of high-quality, innovative research and ideas that span issues of importance to the Air Force.
AFWERX – Various Locations: https://www.afwerx.af.mil/index.html
AFWERX is a community of Air Force innovators who strive to connect Airmen to solutions across the force: whether that be funding, collaborating with industry, or simply receiving guidance on a project.
AFWERX Austin – Austin, TX: https://www.afwerx.af.mil/austin-hub.html
The AFWERX Austin hub, located within the Capital Factory, serves as a channel through which pioneers in their respective industries can acquire the necessary resources to bring an idea to fruition within the Air Force. As a strategic networking organization, they provide the interface required for innovators to connect across industry, academia, and government.
AFWERX DC – Washington, DC: https://www.afwerx.af.mil/dc-hub.html
Located five blocks from the Pentagon, at Eastern Foundry, AFWERX DC provides a public workspace for Air Force innovation and collaboration. This allows us to identify and connect people and resources across government, industry, and academia in partnership with Virginia Tech Applied Research Corporation (VT-ARC).
AFWERX Vegas – Las Vegas, NV: https://www.afwerx.af.mil/vegas-hub.html
With 26,000 square feet of collaboration space in the heart of the conference capital of the U.S.–Las Vegas, Nevada–as well its proximity to Nellis Air Force Base and UNLV, AFWERX Vegas is positioned to connect people and resources across government, the private sector, and academia.
