Tech Demo Day: Outside-the-Box Thinking

Dr. Larry Schuette of the Office of Naval Research discusses innovation at the Feb. 24 Pax River Tech Demo Day.

Pax Partnership, Hyperion Technologies, SMIT bring event to region

The recent Pax River Tech Demo Day brought together speakers, panelists, exhibitors, and attendees to focus on innovation and the need for a change in government culture in order to take advantage of new products and technologies, many of which could benefit today’s warfighter.

Dr. Larry Schuette, director of research for the Office of Naval Research, said the Navy is in a good place regarding research and development because ONR is “actively engaged, and this isn’t so for the other services.” He noted the Innovation Challenge teams exhibiting at Tech Demo Day.

The Novel Innovative Sound Energy Harvesting Device team, derived from Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division’s Innovation Challenge, successfully harnessed sound energy from jet engines in a field environment and demonstrated that it could be stored via battery. The Sensor Embedding for Additive Manufacturing team also was present, demonstrating that it is possible to get reliable, accurate data for structural health monitoring of metallic “3-D printed” parts.

Both teams focused on what was needed and sought solutions.

Dr. Yogesh Joshi, associate professor at the Robert H. Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland, spoke about the importance of “need” in product development and how to commercialize technological innovations. Joshi explained three classic pitfalls in technological innovations: “failure to account for ‘typical’ innovation adoption rates; inappropriate ‘go-to-market’ strategies; and violation of ‘customer centric innovation’ principles.”

Dr. Joshi also stressed partnerships and collaborative efforts. RADM Dean Peters, commander of the Naval Air Warfare Center and assistant commander for research and engineering at NAVAIR, also emphasized the importance of partnerships between government and industry. He also said the government needed to own data rights and capture information, and allow small businesses, rich in innovative culture, to obtain pieces of bigger government contracts.

The need for small business, rapid acquisition process, and innovation culture was discussed throughout the two panel discussions: “Developing a product-focused R&D strategy” and “Innovating in the government market.”

Moderator Ben Solomon, CEO of Hyperion Technologies, and panelists David Hagar, representing NAWCAD; Dr. Joshi; Geoff Orazem, managing partner of Eastern Foundry; and Vidyu Challa, business development director of FlexEl LLC, discussed the key elements needed when fostering an innovative culture in business. The panelists’ diverse backgrounds highlighted the need for strategy related to research and development. Mr. Solomon mentioned Maryland’s various resources available to entrepreneurs.

“StartupMaryland,  TEDCO, and numerous incubator spaces throughout the state assist companies just getting started,” said Mr. Solomon. The Maryland Venture Fund, a state-funded seed and early-stage equity fund, has invested in more than 50 companies to date.

US Navy retired RADM Steve Eastburg, executive vice president of Smartronix, moderated the second panel which included Emily Harman, director of the Navy’s Office of Small Business Programs; RADM Shane Gahagan, military director of the Integrated Warfighting Capability Enterprise Team; retired RADM Matt Klunder, vice president of DoD strategy, Harris Corp; and Rick Tarr, business development program manager of NAWCAD.

Panelists emphasized leadership needed to move from the “risk averse” way of doing things, which will “drive young engineers, who view entrepreneurship as part of their DNA, out of the government.”

RADM Klunder added that “everyone is responsible” and that “innovation should be thought of as a factor in performance so people will be compelled to think outside the box.”

Exhibitors present at Pax River Tech Demo Day showed how they were thinking outside the box with innovative products.

“The technologies are remarkable,” Bonnie Green, TPP executive director, said. “Wouldn’t it be great to see NAVAIR utilize some of these to ultimately benefit the warfighter?”

For more information on The Patuxent Partnership, visit their Leader member page.