Technology Transfer

Mission — Technology Transfer source

Technology Transfer is a critical strategy for the NDS and DoD that makes the best possible use of national scientific, technical resources and information to enhance the effectiveness of DoD forces and warfighting capability systems. The Air Force Technology Transfer and Transition (T3) program oversees all Air Force inventions/patents and technology transfer agreements (CRADAs, EPAs, CTAs, MTAs, etc). Over its history, Tech Transfer has provided a great return on investment (over 100 to 1), as the agreements themselves do not provide DoD funding to companies/non-traditionals, but serve as a way for the DoD to partner together and with industry to achieve a common goal. The only major costs to increasing this force multiplier are staff and legal support resources (they are not contracts). Since 2012 the Air Force Tech Transfer & Transition Program Office has managed two OSD-level Partnership Intermediaries (PIAs), TechLink & Miltech (Montana State University), as well as helped the Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Science, Technology, and Engineering (SAF/AQR) in the management and oversight of the 16 Air Force PIAs (as of FY25). The 646003 project resources the management of DoD/AF PIAs, the development of data to support the Defense Technology Transfer Information System (DTTIS), invention disclosure & patent processing, program management activities, training, and support to the Technology Executive Officer (TEO). This program impacts virtually all technology fields, including the DoD Critical Technology Areas, and facilitates mechanisms to help achieve the operational imperatives via Tech Transfer as captured in the Annual DoD Technology Transfer Report. The AFWERX mission (relevant to Projects 64317A and 646030) is to accelerate agile and affordable capability transitions by teaming innovative technology developers with Airmen and Guardian talent. AFWERX leverages Spark (the Airmen and Guardian talent base), AFVentures (the dual-use expanded technology base), and Prime (technology transitions) to scale and accelerate the capability. Funding in this project supports AFWERX research and development, innovation hubs, and information technology, public affairs, and marketing. In FY 2025, the entirety of Project 646030, AFWERX efforts and Project 64317A, Technology Transfer Add in PE 0604317F, Technology Transfer, were transferred to PE 0604009F, AFWERX Prime, Project 640856 AFWERX Operations and Support. This program element may include necessary civilian pay expenses required to manage, execute, and deliver Technology Transfer capabilities. The use of such programs funds would be in addition to the civilian pay expenses budgeted in program element 0605827F, 0605828F, 0605829F, 0605831F, 0605832F, 0605833F, 0605898F, 0606398F. This program element may include necessary expenses to support the operation and maintenance of facilities to manage, execute, and deliver science and technology capabilities. This effort is in Budget Activity 4, Advanced Component Development and Prototypes (ACD&P), because efforts are necessary to evaluate integrated technologies, representative modes or prototype systems in a high fidelity and realistic operating environment.

Mission — 64317A Technology Transfer Add source

The AFWERX mission is to accelerate agile and affordable capability transitions by teaming innovative technology developers with Airmen and Guardian talent. AFWERX leverages Spark (the Airmen and Guardian talent base), AFVentures (the dual-use expanded technology base), and Prime (technology transitions) to scale and accelerate the capability. Funding in this project supports AFWERX research and development, innovation hubs, and information technology, public affairs, and marketing. The AFWERX Program reduces risk in emerging technology markets by partnering with industries through Prime investments and providing access to Government analysis, testing and certification capabilities. Prime investments focus on Government-industry partnerships to influence and militarize emerging commercial capabilities to ensure US competitive advantage in key technology areas. The Spark mission is to inspire and enable Airmen and Guardians to unleash their collective talent and ingenuity. Spark connects innovators using virtual collaboration, immersive training, and networking opportunities to inspire ideas and cultivate more lethal force. By connecting operators closer to acquisition processes, Spark provides both a voice and a conduit to accelerate powerful ideas into game-changing operational realities. This focus helps guide technologies through transition across the valley from idea to scaled and sustained capability. Beginning in FY 2024, PE 0604317F, Technology Transfer, Project 64317A, Technology Transfer Add efforts were transferred to PE 0604009F, AFWERX Prime, Project 640856 AFWERX Operations and Support.

Mission — Partnership Intermediary Agreement(s) source

Since 2012 the Air Force Tech Transfer & Transition Program Office has managed two OSD-level Partnership Intermediaries (PIAs), TechLink & Miltech (Montana State University), as supported the Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Science, Technology, and Engineering (SAF/AQR) in the management and oversight of the 16 Air Force PIAs (as of FY23). The 646003 project resources the management of DoD/AF PIAs, the development of data to support the Defense Technology Transfer Information System (DTTIS), invention disclosure & patent processing, program management activities, training, and support to the Technology Executive Officer (TEO). This program impacts virtually all technology fields, including our Critical Technology Areas, and non-funded mechanisms to help achieve the operational imperatives via Tech Transfer as captured in the Annual DoD Technology Transfer Report. Technology Transfer is a critical strategy for the National Defense Strategy and DoD that makes the best possible use of national scientific, technical resources and information to enhance the effectiveness of DoD forces and warfighting capability systems. Enabled by the TechLink PIA, TechLink brokered 80% of DoD license agreements over the past 5 years, with 90% of them being with small businesses. TechLink has also facilitated over 2,000 DoD T2 agreements since 1999 and has enabled the conversion of lab inventions into realized products and services that bolster the US Defense Innovation Ecosystem. Throughout FY24, TechLink facilitated 77 metric-related agreements between the DoD and industry. An incredible amount of activity driven by TechLink's business units and cross functional teams enable the achievement of technology transfer success for the Air Force and DoD. Since 2004, Montana State University's MilTech has performed over 600 technology acceleration and transition projects for all DoD Services, OSD, Joint and Special Programs. Additionally, MilTech has partnered will all DoD Services for over twenty years to support efforts such as electronic warfare, medical technologies and body armor projects and has been selected as the permanent bi-annual host of the Interservice Body Armor Working Group (IBAWG) event. Montana State University's MilTech has been rated as a Top Ten Veteran Friendly university and has supported MilTech's 20 years of successful technology transitions that protect Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, and Guardians. Fundamentally, the Air Force Technology Transfer and Transition Program Office oversees all AF inventions/patents and technology transfer agreements. This project includes the management of DoD/AF PIAs, invention disclosure & patent processing, program management activities, training, support to the Technology Executive Officer (TEO), and support of the Defense Technology Transfer Information System (DTTIS). This DTTIS platform collects and manages technology transfer activities. Phase I of the DTTIS initiative focuses on deploying the system for use by the DAF Tech Transfer office. DTTIS is projected to provide an approximately 6.33 million in annual cost avoidance across the DAF. As of June 2025, DTTIS has received its Authorization to Operate (ATO) and went live in October 2024.

Mission — AFwerX source

The AFWERX mission is to accelerate agile and affordable capability transitions by teaming innovative technology developers with Airmen and Guardian talent. AFWERX leverages Spark (the Airmen and Guardian talent base), AFVentures (the dual-use expanded technology base), and Prime (technology transitions) to scale and accelerate the capability. Funding in this project supports AFWERX research and development, innovation hubs, and information technology, public affairs, and marketing. The AFWERX Program reduces risk in emerging technology markets by partnering with industries through Prime investments and providing access to Government analysis, testing and certification capabilities. Prime investments focus on Government-industry partnerships to influence and militarize emerging commercial capabilities to ensure US competitive advantage in key technology areas. The Spark mission is to inspire and enable Airmen and Guardians to unleash their collective talent and ingenuity. Spark connects innovators using virtual collaboration, immersive training, and networking opportunities to inspire ideas and cultivate more lethal force. By connecting operators closer to acquisition processes, Spark provides both a voice and a conduit to accelerate powerful ideas into game-changing operational realities. This focus helps guide technologies through transition across the valley from idea to scaled and sustained capability. Beginning in FY 2024, PE 0604317F, Technology Transfer, Project 646030, AFWERX efforts were transferred to PE 0604009F, AFWERX Prime, Project 640856 AFWERX Operations and Support.

Accomplishments & Planned Programs (3)