Car armor designed to protect against rocket-propelled grenades.
A liquid so powerful that bullets can?t penetrate it.
A dye that can secretly mark a person and only be detected by specialized, though inexpensive, equipment.
Focusing on the possible commercial uses of homeland security research, a showcase at Aberdeen Proving Ground on Thursday gave more than 150 members of technology-based businesses the opportunity to hear about some of the results of APG labs.
“The Army has invested a lot into several technologies ? to the advantage of the guys in the field,” said Brian Simmons, technical director of the U.S. Army Development Test Command.
Simmons said the showcase allows the Army to share its developments with the private sector, thus recouping some of the costs associated with the research and development.
“What we?re really hopeful for here is that entrepreneurial spark ? and that you folks will see an application for these technologies,” said Julio Suarez of the APG Business Development Office.
Business representatives had the opportunity to learn about technologies developed at APG, such as handheld chemical threat detectors, devices that can detect explosives and concealed weapons, fuel cell power sources, how to build structures that can withstand chemical or biological attacks, enhanced image processing for existing and future camera systems and how to reinforce everything from vehicle to clothing with chemical-resistant coating and sheer thickening fluids.
“This [showcase] helps to position us for BRAC,” said Denise Carnaggio of Harford County Economic Development when asked what were the benefits of the technology transfer showcase. “Small businesses have spun off from this. It creates opportunities for collaboration.”
“We?re in the business of helping others develop technology,” said Renee Winsky, of the Maryland Technology Development Corporation, a quasi-state agency which helped to organize the technology showcase.
Business of the day
» Thursday?s technological transfer showcase ended with a networking session hosted by Harford County Economic Development.
» Business representatives had the opportunity to hear firsthand during this session how the APG technology transfer has benefited local businesses.
» Testimonials were given by CCL Biomedical, of Havre de Grace, and RTR Technologies, of Aberdeen, on how each company was able to make use of technology shared with the private sector at previous showcases.
