Georgia Tech’sExecutive Vice President for Research Steve Cross testified before the U.S. HouseArmed Services Committee’s panel on Business Challenges within the DefenseIndustry earlier today.

Cross was invitedto present testimony at the hearing entitled, “Doing Business with the DOD:Getting Innovative Solutions from Concept to the Hands of the Warfighter.” Thepanel asked for insight on the role that universities, research institutionsand laboratories play in developing innovative technologies for the Departmentof Defense, particularly in the effort to transition research from academicconcept into production.

As part ofhis testimony, Cross highlighted Georgia Tech’s FY 2011 $643 million in researchexpenditures and how the institute supports and translates defense researchthrough technology transition and innovation programs.

“Defenseresearch and associated technology transition and innovation programs are vitalfor ensuring the United States retains a competitive advantage in its nationalsecurity posture,” Cross said. “As shown time and time again, the fruits ofdefense research seed economic development helping accelerate new technologies tomarket.”

According toCross, such technologies are available for use in defense systems at a fractionof what they would otherwise cost and in a much reduced time frame.

 Representatives from the Stanford Research Institute and theMITRE Corporation joined Cross in presenting testimony. A copy of his testimonycan be found at the link below.