R&D Collaboration

ERDCWERX is a public-private innovation platform that extends the reach of the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) by connecting its scientists and engineers with industry, academia, and startups to accelerate dual-use technology. As the link for direct access to ERDC’s world-class labs, ERDCWERX brings Mississippi companies and researchers a direct line to federal R&D capability that would otherwise be hard to access—translating government science into commercial and defense-ready solutions in the state.

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The Federal Laboratory Consortium for Technology Transfer (FLC) is the nationwide network that facilitates the commercialization of research and technology developed at more than 300 federal labs and centers. FLC opens a clearer pathway for Mississippi companies, researchers, and universities to access federal IP and licensing pipelines—particularly those tied to Stennis-resident agencies and nearby ERDC capabilities.

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Gulf Blue is Mississippi’s Blue Economy initiative led by the University of Southern Mississippi, supporting marine technology startups through programs like the Gulf Blue Navigator accelerator and a growing ocean-innovation network on the Gulf Coast. Gulf Blue connects ocean and maritime technology companies to federal assets at Stennis—including NOAA, NRL, and CNMOC—and integrates Mississippi’s Blue Economy into the state’s broader aerospace and defense innovation strategy.

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The Marine Technology Society (MTS) is an international professional society advancing ocean and marine technology, with strong participation from the Stennis and Gulf Coast marine science community through its local sections. MTS plugs Mississippi’s oceanographic, geospatial, and marine technology firms into national research communities and emerging commercial opportunities—reinforcing the state’s Blue Economy through a global professional network.

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The Mississippi Defense Initiative (MDI) at USM’s Trent Lott National Center positions the university and the state to better serve defense-related missions, partnerships, and workforce needs across the region. MDI builds the bridge between university capability and real-world industry and government demand—particularly around defense policy, supply chain resilience, and workforce priorities critical to Mississippi’s defense base.

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Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College (MGCCC) serves Hancock, Harrison, Jackson, Stone, and George counties with technical, workforce, and community education programs spanning manufacturing, precision machining, avionics, and emerging technology trades. MGCCC’s training programs are tightly aligned with the talent needs of aerospace, defense, and technology employers near Stennis and across the broader Gulf Coast industrial base.

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