A new partnership has been created to support the market introduction of technologies invented at the seven laboratories of the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center, headquartered in Vicksburg.

Mississippi’s research institutions have recently joined with ERDCWERX, a DEFENSEWERX innovation hub and government partner of ERDC, to identify promising industry sectors and companies for potential licensure of ERDC technologies.

“Government patents often have value and applicability not only for the military but also for commercial use,” ERDCWERX Director Paul Sumrall said. “Market assessment is a type of ERDCWERX innovation project that involves evaluation of ERDC patented technologies for market potential as well as commercialization strategies.”

Four innovations are currently being evaluated and will benefit from the expertise of university tech transfer teams as the market potential of each technology is investigated and documented.

The Office of Technology Management at Mississippi State University serves as the project lead and provides project coordination with Jackson State University, the University of Mississippi and the University of Southern Mississippi. All of the universities are members of the Mississippi Research Consortium.

“There are significant levels of synergy between the goals of ERDCWERX and those of the MRC institutions. Our partnership highlights not only the complementary scientific expertise and technical capabilities available within the MRC institutions, but also reflects the expertise and valuable contributions of our institutional Tech Transfer Directors,” the current Chair of the MRC, Dr. Joseph Whittaker, said. “The MRC is looking forward to future expanded engagement with ERDCWERX in advancing tech transfer and commercialization capabilities throughout Mississippi and nationwide.”

As a partnership intermediary, ERDCWERX supports technology transfer, innovation and workforce development across the ERDC enterprise and extends ERDC’s reach through government, industry and academic collaborations.

“The ERDC has a long-standing relationship with Mississippi’s research universities,” said Bartley Durst, director of the Geotechnical and Structures Laboratory at the ERDC. “Bringing ERDCWERX into this relationship will help enhance the connection with the goal of achieving greater results and increasing opportunities for collaboration and technology transfer.”

ERDC has over 50 patents at any given time and is authorized to license its intellectual property to private industry and other entities. A complete list of technologies invented by ERDC researchers can be accessed at https://www.erdc.usace.army.mil/Business-With-Us/PatentsAvailableforLicensing/.