Crane Leaders Discuss Innovation in Washington

Each multi-year agreement includes the potential for increased scope and funding levels.

Officials from Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane Division, along with other state leaders, met Wednesday in Washington with representatives from the Office of the Vice President and the Office of Science & Technology Policy. Crane says the purpose of the meeting was to highlight the innovation ecosystem in southern Indiana.

The briefing included NSWC Crane Technical Director Brett Seidle and Indiana Chief Innovation Officer Dave Roberts as well as high-ranking members of the U.S. Department of Defense and the U.S. Navy. Crane says one of the goals was to detail "success factors and communicate lessons learned from the public-private effort to stimulate growth."

The center says the meeting also included discussions on whether the innovation effort could serve as a model for other federal laboratories throughout the country.

"NSWC Crane is fostering the growth of a vibrant innovation ecosystem through the intentional outreach and development of strategic partnerships with industry, academia and other federal labs," said Kyle Werner, director of engagement for NSWC Crane. "The ecosystem we’ve helped develop is accelerating the speed of technology advancement, increasing access to federal facilities, and significantly enhancing the command’s ability to perform its assigned mission."

Crane touted the state’s support for the technologies and innovations being developed at the laboratory, including Vice President Mike Pence’s commitment when he was governor of Indiana to invest $1 billion in innovation and entrepreneurship over the next decade.