The AutoHarvest Foundation announces that it has entered into a memorandum of understanding with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science & Technology Directorate (S&T) and the Department of Defense, U.S. Army Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center (TARDEC). AutoHarvest, DHS S&T and TARDEC have identified a framework for partnership to promote the adaptation of automotive-related technological innovation for use at the Federal, State and local levels. This framework provides for more efficient communication of publicly available requirements, capability gaps, technology and information to the private sector.
Detroit, Michigan (PRWEB) April 19, 2012
The AutoHarvest Foundation announces that it has entered into a memorandum of understanding with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science & Technology Directorate (S&T) and the Department of Defense, U.S. Army Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center (TARDEC).
AutoHarvest, DHS S&T and TARDEC have identified a framework for partnership to promote the adaptation of automotive-related technological innovation for use at the Federal, State and local levels. This framework provides for more efficient communication of publicly available requirements, capability gaps, technology and information to the private sector.
Both DHS S&T and TARDEC require an awareness of cutting edge advancement in the mobility industries in order to fulfill their missions. AutoHarvest‘s role is to assist the U.S. Army and DHS by enabling their respective participation in an online portal where interested private sector entities can learn about DHS and U.S. Army needs, resources, and missions. "Collaboration with industry and academia is vital to our efforts at TARDEC”, said Ms. Jennifer Hitchcock, TARDEC Interim Director. “The MOU with AutoHarvest is a great way to make new connections and begin sharing ideas and information that will help bring new technology to our Warfighters."
“This Memorandum provides for a centralized and convenient clearinghouse for information exchange between the DHS, TARDEC, first responders, end-users, and the private sector,” said AutoHarvest Co-Founder and Chairman, Dr. David E. Cole. “It sets forth the terms by which DHS, TARDEC, and AutoHarvest will work towards furthering research, product development, commercialization, and facilitating economic development,” added Jayson D. Pankin, AutoHarvest Co-Founder, President and Chief Executive Officer.
All parties involved in this initiative will benefit from cost savings, technology awareness, and enhanced relationships. The Federal government will benefit by being made aware of technology solutions and services that fit the expressed needs of homeland security and U.S. Army end users. Furthermore, the private sector will benefit by being made aware of specific, publicly available, DHS and TARDEC requirements and capability gaps.
"This agreement provides an opportunity to partner with recognized organizations such as the U.S. Army, TARDEC and AutoHarvest,” said Ms. Deborah Determan, Director of Research & Development Partnerships, DHS S&T. “Public-private partnerships like this provide us with valuable insight into the many activities and development projects of TARDEC and AutoHarvest members. These relationships are invaluable to DHS S&T's technology foraging efforts that seek to more rapidly identify innovative solutions to challenges faced across the homeland security enterprise."
Congressman Hansen Clarke (D-MI-13) said “In order to sustain America's competitive and innovative capacity, it is crucial that we support this type of information exchange between the public and private sectors. These partnerships help to create jobs and develop and streamline the best technologies. As a member of the House of Representatives Committee on Homeland Security, I am excited to see the innovation that will come from the partnership between AutoHarvest, DHS, and TARDEC.”
To Learn More:
Contact Jayson D. Pankin at info(at)autoharvest(dot)org
ABOUT AUTOHARVEST
AutoHarvest Foundation is a Michigan 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization and is led by some of the most highly respected figures in the automotive industry. AutoHarvest is designing and planning to launch a marketplace-driven Ecollaboration system that accelerates innovation in advanced manufacturing. AutoHarvest is guided by its peer interest group, which consists of over 70 prominent government, university, automaker, supplier, venture capital, business accelerator and manufacturing organizations. Located within the innovation hubs of the Southeast Michigan region including Wayne State University's Research and Development Park - TechTown - and the University of Michigan's North Campus Research Complex, AutoHarvest sits in the heart of NAFTA's automotive cluster. Recently awarded a grant by the New Economy Initiative Foundation (“NEI”), AutoHarvest will join the NEI's Detroit Regional Innovation Network, a 10-year program to boost high-tech development and job creation in Southeast Michigan. For more information visit: http://www.autoharvest.org.
ABOUT TARDEC
Headquartered at the U.S. Army Detroit Arsenal in Warren, Mich., TARDEC is the Nation's laboratory for advanced military automotive technology and serves as the Ground Systems Integrator for all Department of Defense (DOD) manned and unmanned ground vehicle systems. With roots dating back to the World War II era, TARDEC is a full life-cycle, systems engineering support provider-of-first-choice for all DOD ground combat and combat support weapons, equipment and vehicle systems. TARDEC develops and integrates the right technology solutions to improve Current Force effectiveness and provides superior capabilities for Future Force integration. TARDEC's technical, scientific and engineering staff lead cutting-edge research and development in Ground Systems Survivability; Power and Mobility; Ground Vehicle Robotics; Force Projection; and Vehicle Electronics and Architecture. TARDEC is a major research, development and engineering center for Research, Development and Engineering Command and an enterprise partner in the TACOM Life Cycle Management Command. http://tardec.army.mil For more information about TARDEC contact Public Affairs Officer Bruce J. Huffman at: mailto:bruce.j.huffman.civ(at)mail(dot)mil or (586)215-8763 Facebook: US Army TARDEC Twitter: TARDEC_PAO
ABOUT DHS
The DHS Science and Technology (S&T) Research & Development Partnerships (RDP) manages a set of core competencies that provide measureable value to DHS S&T in facilitating “win-win” relationships with members of the homeland security enterprise, comprised of both government and non-government agencies and organizations. RDP conducts extensive outreach efforts with members of the homeland security enterprise based on the strategic and programmatic needs of DHS and S&T. RDP enables opportunities for information sharing and relationship building that assist in evaluating, expediting and monitoring the execution of programs through cooperative development activities. RDP maintains extensive contacts and key references across government, academia, laboratories, industry and other R&D organizations to conduct outreach, and provide research and funding opportunities to the public and private sectors both domestically and internationally.
For more information about the Research & Development Partnerships Group please contact us at SandT_RDParnterships(at)dhs(dot)gov or call (202) 254-6749.
For the original version on PRWeb visit: http://www.prweb.com/releases/prweb2012/4/prweb9414281.htm
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