ROME — Established in 2002 by the State of New York, Griffiss Institute is a STEM Talent + Technology Accelerator that advocates and facilitates the co-operation of private industry, academia, and the Air Force Research Laboratory Information Directorate (AFRL/RI), in developing solutions to critical cyber security problems.

Located at 592 Hangar Road, the Griffiss Institute also aims to develop the next generation of STEM talent and defense technologies that will strengthen U.S. national security and create economic opportunity for the region, state and nation, and powers its international network of scientists, engineers, and entrepreneurs from its home at Innovare Advancement Center’s state-of-the-art facilities.

What they do:

Technology Transfer: Technology Transfer is a process through which technical information and products developed by the federal government are provided to potential users in a manner that encourages and accelerates their evaluation and use. More than merely disseminating information, technology transfer techniques feature marketing of federally-developed technology and products as well as demonstrating the use of these new technologies when necessary.

The concept of technology transfer from federal laboratories is to get the ideas, inventions, and technologies developed with taxpayer dollars into the hands of the private sector as quickly as possible so that the end result is useful to U.S. industry and can make the United States more competitive in world markets.

In addition, the Griffiss Institute offers:

The GI Lecture + Education Series: A collaborative effort to bring together local businesses, Air Force Research Laboratory researchers, and academia to foster  technology-driven topics of common interest and promote business development.

The Griffiss Institute Business Incubator (GIBI): The GIBI aims to connect entrepreneurs with technology developed at the Air Force Research Laboratory in Rome, enabling technology transfer to industry for commercialization.

The Griffiss Institute High-Speed Research Facility provides an independent test space for a variety of technologies including: Virtualization, Cloud Computing, Network Forensics and Wireless Infrastructure.

Innovare Advancement Center: Is a 150,000 square foot open innovation hub that converges world-class scientific, engineering, and entrepreneurial talent from universities, government, and industry to tackle new challenges in artificial intelligence, machine learning, cybersecurity, quantum, and unmanned aerial systems.

Innovare’s unique capabilities include highly specialized laboratories for experimentation in quantum communications and neuromorphic computing, 40,000 square feet of high-tech and high-speed communications-enabled collaboration spaces, an auditorium with capacity for more than 250 people, a 50-mile drone corridor for advanced unmanned aircraft operations, and an indoor sUAS research and testing facility with 22,500 square foot indoor flight testing area — the largest in the United States.

HUSTLE Defense Accelerator: Are you a tech startup pushing artificial intelligence, machine learning, cybersecurity, quantum science, or uncrewed aircraft system solutions? Are you interested in education and mentoring through a group of highly talented professionals with the chance to learn how to work with the government, how to open the door to partnerships and how to fund and grow your ventures and deliver trusted technologies to the American economy?

This year, GI is looking for pre-seed and seed-stage startups who could benefit from participating in the HUSTLE Defense Accelerator and will be using a multi-step process for selecting cohort startup teams. 

STEM: The goal of the AFRL STEM Outreach Program is to foster a new generation of scientists, mathematicians, engineers and technologists who will one day discover, and problem solve in the nation’s defense laboratories and other supporting U.S. companies.

Internships: The 2023 application cycle has begun for the Summer Internship Program at the Information Directorate of the Air Force Research Laboratory. This is a paid summer internship opportunity for students currently enrolled in an accredited college or university at the freshman level through PhD level (U.S. citizens only) to work on-site with AFRL researchers on a wide variety of research projects.

Applicants may now choose from a listing of research project topics that they would like to be considered for. Examples of research topics available are Data Efficient Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence, IoT, Small Unmanned Aircraft System, Neuromorphic Computing, Trusted Software, Quantum Information Sciences and more. The 2023 Summer Internship Program will start on Monday, June 5, and end on Friday, Aug. 11.

VICEROY: The VICEROY program is intended to increase the quantity and quality of students who possess job-ready Department of Defense cybersecurity skills upon graduation. The approach is to augment traditional college curricula by providing hands-on, experiential learning opportunities that are uniquely tailored to match the workforce demands of the Armed Services, Department of Defense, and our Defense Industrial Base partners. It helps provide an enhanced pipeline for future cyber leaders and increase diversity in the cyber workforce.