BOSTON & MCLEAN, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Allied Minds, Inc., a dedicated technology company designed specifically to commercialize technologies developed at renowned U.S. university and federal government research labs, and The MITRE Corporation, a not-for-profit organization that operates six FFRDCs, today announced a commercialization partnership that aims to increase public access to innovations, starting with those in cyber and mobile security.
In forming this relationship with Allied Minds, MITRE joins a growing number of U.S. Department of Defense-sponsored R&D entities, including The Aerospace Corporation, U.S. Army RDECOM (Research, Development, and Engineering Command) and Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division (NSWC Crane), that are working with the Boston-based technology company to develop a new process for the successful commercialization of some of their leading innovations.
The agreements between Allied Minds and the research centers aim to create an efficient technology transfer system to increase availability of the organizations' intellectual property and facilitate new-company creation. This commercialization system aims to contribute to the growth of the U.S. economy with the help and talent of other companies and investors.
“The agreement with MITRE marks an important milestone in our efforts to provide more opportunities to introduce technology innovations to the commercial marketplace,” said Chris Silva, chief executive officer of Allied Minds. “The unique and growing network of government-sponsored R&D centers that have joined this technology transfer effort over the past 18 months demonstrates the shared vision and commitment we all have in this public-private partnership to support the global competitiveness of our nation's economy.”
Allied Minds' relationship with MITRE is governed under a CRADA (Cooperative Research and Development Agreement). Similarly, Allied Minds also has entered into CRADAs with several federal research labs. Each arrangement is structured to help create a platform for technology transfer, as well as new company creation.
Allied Minds, through its subsidiary Allied Minds Federal Innovations (AMFI), will review technologies developed through MITRE's R&D program with commercial potential and license their use. The firm then fully funds the establishment of new businesses to develop commercial applications for those innovations.
To date, Allied Minds has evaluated numerous high-quality technologies developed through MITRE’s independent R&D program. Of those, the investment firm is in the process of commercializing two, including STRONGARM, an active defense cyber security system; and Secure Virtual Mobile Platform (SVMP), an open source program that provides greater data protection and a secure environment in which to build security applications. SVMP has been integrated into the product portfolio of Allied Minds’ mobile security subsidiary, Optio Labs.
“While serving our government sponsors, MITRE often develops innovations that would be of increased value to the government and the nation if they were more readily available to and supported by industry,” said Mark Maybury, Ph.D., MITRE vice president and chief technology officer. “Accordingly, MITRE works collaboratively with government and industry to transfer our intellectual property through a variety of mechanisms such as our new FastLicense™ program. Our cooperative agreement with AMFI introduces a new and efficient technology transfer channel, ultimately leading to more affordable products to support our sponsors’ mission capabilities that will simultaneously contribute to economic development.”
As a private, not-for-profit organization formed in 1958 to provide systems engineering, R&D and technical guidance to the federal government, MITRE has more than 7,500 scientists, engineers and support specialists, with primary locations in Bedford, Massachusetts, and McLean, Virginia. To get MITRE prototypes to commercial companies that can develop cost-effective solutions and bring products to market, MITRE has an active technology-licensing program with more than 250 technology licenses completed in the past five years. These include innovations to ensure that small aircraft and unmanned aerial systems have the same level of situational awareness as large planes and technology to increase security and resiliency of computer networks, allowing organizations to operate cost-effectively using largely existing infrastructure.
“We are delighted to add another very important path to technology transfer. Our arrangement with Allied Minds will allow MITRE to more effectively transfer our intellectual property to nimble startup companies that can rapidly bring solutions to market,” said Barry Costa, MITRE’s director of Technology Transfer. “It will also help create jobs and demonstrate how the U.S. government’s investment in MITRE provides additional value to the nation.”
MITRE is also a founding member of the Advanced Cyber Security Center, a first-of-its-kind regional research consortium that unites the academic, government, financial and industrial communities of New England to combat the growing cyber threat.
About Allied Minds, Inc.
Allied Minds is a dedicated technology company that deploys capital to form, fund, manage and build companies based on market-creating technologies developed at renowned U.S. universities and federal research institutions. Allied Minds serves as a diversified holding company that supports its businesses with capital, management and shared services. More information about the Boston-based company can be found at www.alliedminds.com.
About The MITRE Corporation
The MITRE Corporation is a not-for-profit organization that operates research and development centers sponsored by the federal government. Our centers support our sponsors with scientific research and analysis, development and acquisition, and systems engineering and integration. We also have an independent research program that explores new and expanded uses of technologies to meet our sponsors’ needs. Our principal locations are in Bedford, Mass., and McLean, VA. To learn more, visit www.mitre.org.
