UM-Lockheed partnership makes sense for everyone

Posted: 1:51 pm Wed, July 28, 2010
By C.D. Mote Jr.

The University of Maryland and Bethesda-based Lockheed Martin Corp. have entered an agreement aimed at shortening the innovation pipeline and spurring technological development. By creating “centers of collaboration,” the best scientists and engineers in both organizations can jointly research and incubate new technologies. This arrangement works on many levels.

The type of partnership that the Maryland-Lockheed Martin agreement forms — between a research university and industry — will undoubtedly contribute to the nation’s strategic interests. These collaborations make good economic sense and allow us to match the rapid pace of technological development.

The partnership, which includes a $1 million investment by Lockheed Martin for each of three years, will allow innovations to move more quickly to the marketplace and may inspire third-party funding that might not be accessed separately. Initial collaborations will focus on cyber-defense, military logistics and climate change. All are fields vital to Maryland and the nation.

Fostering a more creative, agile and productive scientific environment is essential to success in the current economic climate. Our collaboration improves our chances of successful innovation by 1) uniting academic and industry talent, and 2) by integrating design, research and development, and commercialization phases more thoroughly from the start.

When these activities get separated, the so-called “Valley of Death” opens up and often strands promising innovations. A more integrated approach should close this gap and help secure better funding, from both federal sources and other end users.

When Glenn L. Martin began a relationship with the University of Maryland in 1944, his financial commitment — $30 million in today’s dollars — initiated aerospace education and research at the university. Martin’s instinct was right: he knew it would be a good investment.

In the same way, this new collaboration will prove that an innovative approach to innovation is good public policy and good business.

C.D. Mote Jr. is president of the University of Maryland and has played a national leadership role in efforts to stimulate U.S. competitiveness. He signed a memorandum of understanding with Lockheed Martin on June 4, 2010.