Dayton, September 26, 2018: Wright Brothers Institute (WBI) has been awarded a five-year follow-on Partnership Intermediary Agreement with the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base for a ceiling amount of $49,800,000. A Partnership Intermediary Agreement (PIA) is an agreement between the government and an intermediary organization such as state and local governmental agencies and nonprofit entities to perform partnership intermediary services. WBI was the first organization to establish a PIA with the Air Force, in 2002. Renewing the 16-year partnership between WBI and AFRL signifies a strong commitment to innovation and military capability.
The follow-on will allow WBI to continue providing services that enable innovation, rapid prototyping, technology transfer and transition and workforce development for AFRL. Partnerships with state and federal agencies are also supported through the agreement, as well as the management of three collaborative environments.
This award endorses newer efforts to establish and accelerate programming at the 444 East Second St. location in Downtown Dayton, create and partner with a wider network of technology accelerators and support external AFRL teams in short-term, high-impact collaboration efforts (i.e. Summer of Innovation).
Les McFawn, WBI’s Executive Director says, “This follow-on gives us the ability to accelerate more opportunities for partnerships, entrepreneurship, innovation and discovery in AFRL, and the Dayton region, than ever before. It will be exciting to showcase that progress in 2019.”
About Wright Brothers Institute
Wright Brothers Institute (WBI) is a cutting-edge innovation and technology commercialization center for the Air Force Research Laboratory, with facilities located just outside of WPAFB in Dayton, OH. We drive fast, agile innovation that enables successful technology development to solve the Air Force’s most complex challenges by leveraging resident experts, unique facilities, disruptive innovation processes and extensive networks. We leverage subject matter experts and intellectual property from AFRL and SBIR companies to unlock the right problem, connect to new partners and synchronize transition pathways through our commercialization partners.
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About AFRL
AFRL is the premier research lab of the United States Air Force. AFRL employs more than 5,700 researchers and scientists who execute a $5B annual budget on behalf of the USAF. AFRL spends more than $550 million in Ohio, with a majority going back into the Dayton Region. Approximately $12.5 million goes to Ohio academia, $260 million toward small business and remainder going to the state industry. AFRL sponsors technology transfer programs that bolster the industrial base, creates jobs and fosters the next generation science and technology workforce by extending its technology outside the fence. It has contributed to significant advancements in modern communications, electronics, manufacturing, and medical research and products.