WHO IS CATALYST CAMPUS FOR TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION (CCTI)?
Catalyst Campus for Technology & Innovation (CCTI) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) ecosystem designed to accelerate collaboration between industry, academia, and government.
Headquartered in downtown Colorado Springs, CCTI brings together entrepreneurs, small businesses, government stakeholders, and researchers to cut the red tape to accelerate innovative solutions for national security challenges.
WHAT IS A PARTNERSHIP INTERMEDIARY AGREEMENT (PIA)?
A Partnership Intermediary Agreement (PIA) is a type of agreement between a non-profit organization and a government agency. This mechanism allows the PIA agenct to facilitate communication between the government and the private sector to assist with technology transfer and transition (T3).
Through a PIA, entities like CCTI can help government agencies navigate complex R&D ecosystems, identify promising technologies, and facilitate T3. This agreement lowers barriers to entry, speeds up innovation cycles, and ensures that cutting-edge capabilities don’t get stuck in the lab.
WHAT IS TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER AND TRANSITION (T3)?
Technology Transfer and Transition (T3) can be broken down into two parts: tech transfer and tech transition. Tech transfer happens when technology is licensed from federal labs and developed by industry. Tech transition is the return journey of the government purchase of licensed technology after industry makes the product. PIAs have a crucial role in this cycle.
The government seldom develops technology on its own. Industry serves as the engine that advances early-stage work from the labs, while academia adds significant value by informing future industry investment in commercialization. T3 does not happen efficiently without industry and academia.
This cycle of early development in labs, advancement through academic research, and commercialization by industry fuels economic growth and thriving businesses. It also boosts government productivity and leverages DoD research and investments.
HOW DOES THE PIA SUPPORT AF CYBERWORX?
CCTI is the PIA that has supported the AF CyberWorx mission since the inception of the program in 2016. CCTI helps identify promising technologies, connect the right stakeholders, and guide innovations through the process of technology transfer and transition (T3). By operating under the PIA, CCTI enables AF CyberWorx to engage non-traditional partners and accelerate innovation to bridge the gap between research and operational use.
CCTI ensures that AF CyberWorx has the infrastructure and outreach to bring new capabilities to life and into the hands of warfighters.
The Power Behind the PIA
Julie Perkins
Program Manager
Kirsten Staples
Marketing Lead
Katie Alessandri
Events & Special Projects Lead