Call to Innovators: ONR’s Naval S&T Partnership Conference Registration Opens

Call to Innovators: ONR’s Naval S&T Partnership Conference Registration Opens

The Office of Naval Research (ONR) opened online registration July 24 for its biennial Naval Science and Technology Partnership Conference, to take place this fall.

“This conference is one of ONR’s signature events,” said Dr. Walter F. Jones, ONR’s executive director. “It provides an ideal forum to bring forth ideas—the necessary basis for advancing all naval warfighting capabilities.”

The event is being held Oct. 22-24 at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City in Arlington, Va. Approximately 1,500 members of ONR’s science and technology (S&T) provider network, as well as Navy and Marine Corps customers, are expected to attend.

This year’s theme—“Innovative Technology for Today’s and Tomorrow’s Warfighter”—emphasizes the need to equip Sailors and Marines with every advantage the Department of the Navy can provide. To view a draft agenda, go to: http://www.onr.navy.mil/Conference-Event-ONR/science-technology-partnership/2012-partnership-conference-agenda.aspx.

The aim of the conference is to raise awareness of the naval S&T strategy and program initiatives; to present technology challenges and enable discussion of potential solutions; and to broaden ONR’s partnership base to explore new ideas.

To improve access to program staff, ONR will reintroduce “Pitch a Principal,” which allows members of industry and academia to request one-on-one meetings with ONR decision makers to pitch proposal ideas for possible collaboration or development.

Those interested in participating can submit a request through the conference website, and all pitches will be considered. For those selected, dates and times will be scheduled with the relevant ONR program officers.

Additionally, ONR will host a poster session for attendees to present their work in an informal setting for the purpose of generating discussion and networking.

The event’s cosponsor, the American Society of Naval Engineers, will host an exposition of the cutting-edge technologies being developed at government and industry facilities around the country.

Attendees interested in connecting with others going to the conference can check out the event’s official Facebook page.

To register for the event, go to: http://www.onr.navy.mil/Conference-Event-ONR/science-technology-partnership.aspx.