ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. – Army, Air Force and Navy international research offices have joined together to secure space at the Translation and Innovation Hub at Imperial College’s White City Campus in London, United Kingdom. The co-location of the three U.S. military services, U.K. government, non-traditional small businesses, industry and a global academic community sets the stage for greater international collaboration opportunities to shape future Army capabilities.
Scientists and engineers from the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command-Atlantic, the Air Force Office of Scientific Research, and the Office of Naval Research-Global now have access to research facilities at the I-HUB, as well as other areas of the campus and facilities for further collaboration. The Imperial College White City Campus is a thriving ecosystem for a network of academic, small business, industry and government entrepreneurs.
“From a U.S. Army CCDC perspective, the strategic co-location with academia, industry, U.S. DoD and U.K. government is crucial to solving Army challenges. We look to build trust in the London innovation ecosystem through proximity, and this trust will enable collaboration opportunities,” said Thomas Mulkern, deputy director of CCDC-Atlantic.
After almost a yearlong tri-service effort CCDC- Atlantic, the Air Force Office of Scientific Research and the Office of Naval Research Global will be part of the Imperial College London’s I-HUB for the next nine years. Collaboration and information sharing within the services is important to support multi-domain operations. The joint services also participate in quarterly DOD Lab Commanders Sync meetings that are hosted by the Army, Air Force, Navy and Coast Guard. CCDC has participated in these meetings since November 2017. The meetings provide research and development and science and technology leaders across the services with an opportunity to build stronger working relationships and create a forum to share challenges, lessons learned and business practices. The next meeting, which will be held virtually, will focus on S&T metrics and talent management.
The I-HUB also hosts the U.K. MOD Defence and Security Accelerator; one of the world’s top ten engineering schools; and major industry partners. The space is operated by the International Workplace Group, which manages flexible workspaces. By joining the network, the tri-services gain hosted access to 3,300 working locations worldwide.
“The successful opening of the I-HUB embodies Gen. [John] Murray’s call to ‘draw on the innovation that surrounds us,’” said Collier Slade, CCDC Director, Global Technology Office, highlighting the partnership’s alignment to Army Futures Command priorities. “The I-HUB is an example of this call to action and demonstrates CCDC’s international reach as we work with our sister services and allies to tap into the most innovative and creative minds in the world to support the Army’s persistent modernization.”
A ribbon cutting will be held by the three services at I-HUB once lockdown restrictions from the coronavirus pandemic are lifted.
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CCDC-Atlantic, which has offices in UK, France, Germany, Italy and Israel, is part of the CCDC Global Enterprise. CCDC, which is a subordinate command of the Army Futures Command, is comprised of six research, development and engineering centers, an analysis center, a research laboratory, and forward elements. CCDC provides research engineering and analytical expertise to develop capabilities for the Army.
The CCDC Global Enterprise ensures U.S. Warfighters have access to the world’s best technologies. Through strategically located offices, the CCDC Global Enterprise has the unique ability to develop relationships with allies and our closest partners; conduct extensive technology search with foreign governments, industry and academia; and provide robust Science and Technology support to the U.S. Combatant Commands and Army Service Component Commands.
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