Topic: Miller College of Business

August 16, 2011

The Federal Laboratory Consortium for Technology Transfer (FLC) Midwest Region recently honored Ball State University's Military 2 Market (M2M) program and Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division (NSWC Crane) for developing a groundbreaking commercialization initiative.

During an Aug. 10 meeting, FLC representatives presented the Partnership Award to Michael Goldsby, director of Ball State's Entrepreneurship Center and the Stoops distinguished professor of entrepreneurship. Brian Geiselhart, Entrepreneurship Center coordinator, was honored with the FLC Appreciation-Special Service Award

M2M is a partnership between NSWC Crane and Ball State's Entrepreneurship Center. The initiative allows students to evaluate and develop additional commercialization applications for the Navy's patented inventions.

As a result of the partnership, NSWC Crane receives a thorough assessment of a technology's commercialization potential while students have access to real-world products as the basis for their business plans, a key requirement for the M2M program.

During the first year of M2M, student projects included repurposing a material to test nonlethal munitions into a simulated skin on which health care professionals can perfect suturing techniques. Students also developed a black box device combining global positioning system (GPS), radio frequency identification (RFID) and other technologies to enable school districts and similar large fleet operators to better monitor their vehicles and those they carry.

"Crane puts a great emphasis on technology transfer, and this partnership with Ball State is a perfect catalyst for increasing applications and commercialization of federal inventions, ultimately driving an innovation economy," said John Dement, NSWC Crane technology transfer program manager. "I am continually impressed by the Ball State Entrepreneurship Center — both by the caliber of the students and the leadership of Michael Goldsby and Brian Geiselhart."

He said NSWC Crane continues to see tangible results from the M2M program including a patent license, a cooperative research and development agreement and four new technology-based startup companies.

U.S. News & World Report ranked M2M as first among 10 "College Classes That Impact the Outside World" in an April edition. The program was also featured in the August issue of the National Defense Industry Association's business and technology magazine, National Defense Magazine.