Bloomington, Ind. (Feb. 16, 2021) – IN3 has entered into a master collaborative research and development agreement (MCRADA) with Tougaloo College Research and Development Foundation, Inc., (TCRDF) which represents a consortium of 31 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Under the MCRADA, the parties to the agreement, will jointly pursue federal and non-federal funding for a variety of defense opportunities. List of the 31 HBCUs is below.
The MCRADA will allow for joint proposals to be created to seek work with the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) and other military entities in a variety of emerging technical areas including hypersonics, cyber-physical systems, trusted microelectronics and artificial intelligence. The agreement also allows for joint pursuits in business development and technology commercialization.
“Historically Black Colleges and Universities are home to some of the best talent dedicated to working on research and development that is key to our national security,” said Stephen E. Kelly, president and CEO of IN3. “The 31 member institutions of the consortium have both undergraduate and graduate students who possess skills and expertise in the fields of engineering, computer science and cybersecurity, which are priorities for the U.S. Department of Defense and other federal agencies.”
The agreement furthers IN3’s mission of working with academia, industry and government to create a hub of national security innovation that helps solve critical defense priorities. The organization also connects regional, state and national partners in a variety of ways including convening research and business teams to solve defense challenges.
“Historically Black Colleges and Universities have proven their ability to produce talent equal to any of their well-resourced counterparts that have received significant amounts of funds from federal, state, local, and other sources that have failed to adequately support HBCUs,” said John Rosenthall, president of TCRDF. “The experience and reach of IN3 will afford our institutions the opportunity to explore and capture research and contract resources in the federal sector that have been heretofore inaccessible. We are excited about the potential this MCRADA holds for HBCUs.”
The MCRADA is in place for three years and will help streamline future collaborative R&D, business development opportunities and the sharing of research facilities.
HBCUs in the Tougaloo Research and Development Foundation Consortium:
| Alcorn State University | Bennett College | Bethune-Cookman University |
| Bowie State University | Florida Memorial University | Fort Valley State University |
| Grambling University | Hutson-Tillotson University | Jarvis Christian College |
| Lawson State Community College | Livingstone College | Miles College |
| Morgan State University | Norfolk State University | North Carolina Central University |
| Paul Quinn College | Prairie View A&M University | Rust College |
| Shaw University | Shorter College | St. Phillips College |
| Stillman College | Talladega College | Tennessee State University |
| Texas College | Tougaloo College | University of Arkansas – Pine Bluff |
| Virginia State University | Virginia University of Lynchburg | Virginia Union University |
| Wiley College |
About IN3
IN3 (Indiana Innovation Institute) works with academia, industry, and government to create a hub of national security innovation that helps solve critical defense priorities. IN3 connects regional, state, and national partners through a variety of means including convening research and business teams to solve emerging technical challenges for the Department of Defense. IN3 is focused on hypersonics, cyber-physical systems, trusted microelectronics, artificial intelligence and 5G. Learn more at www.ari-tech.org and follow us on Twitter @IN3indiana and LinkedIn.
About Tougaloo Research and Development Foundation, Inc.
The Tougaloo College Research and Development Foundation (TCRDF) was formed to support the research and development mission of Tougaloo College and that of other Historically Black Colleges or Universities (HBCUs). TCRDF meets that mission by forming and conducting research and contract partnerships between HBCUs and other research entities. TCRDF’s HBCU Research and Contracts Consortium includes HBCUs, Predominately White Institutions, government contractors and a Business Advisory Board that consists of retired senior level federal officials and military officers.