https://www.public.navy.mil/navwar/Atlantic/Pages/PalmettoTechBridge.aspxAdvisor- Palmetto Tech Bridge
Dec. 2020 - Jan. 2023Charleston, South CarolinaThe 2018 National Defense Strategy was a call to the Department of Defense to find ways to harness innovation in private businesses and academia to better serve and protect our country. As a response, Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development and Acquisition (ASN RDA) Hon. James "Hondo" Geurts established NavalX in February 2019 to expand the Department of the Navy's (DON) capabilities. Tech Bridges will operate like a franchise so each region can develop their own model to connect the "unique innovation ecosystem" of the region. Each site aims to facilitate efforts focused on solving hard problems identified by the Fleet and Navy Department workforce in that area of specialty. Tech Bridges will establish off-base collaborative spaces bringing together parts of the Navy workforce with startups, small businesses, traditional large companies and academia. In this way, Tech Bridges will build sustainable networks for collaboration and accelerate problem solving. The off-base spaces will also lower barriers that might traditionally hamper external collaboration. The Palmetto Tech Bridge (PTB), located in Charleston, South Carolina, is the sixth bridge, established November 26, 2019, under the NavalX office. The initial five locations are based around naval and joint installations in Newport, Rhode Island; Keyport, Washington; San Diego, California; Orlando, Florida; and Crane, Indiana. The PTB draws on talents from across industry and academia, and focuses and facilitates a considerable innovative force in developing dual-use solutions to meet national defense needs and to enhance the region's economic strength with innovative commercial products.