The U.S. Army Research Laboratory (ARL) announced a new partnership with the University of Chicago and other regional universities to effectively establish ARL Central, forming a physical presence for the ARL in the Chicago area and in the central U.S. By establishing technology centers such as ARL Central, ARL West at the University of Southern California, and ARL South at the University of Texas, the organization gains access to regional technology and expertise.
This provides ARL’s own scientists with insights into advanced research being conducted at different locations, such as the studies on ceramic materials science being performed at the University of Florida and how advanced ceramic materials might be optimally used as armor against high-speed projectiles. ARL Central was established as part of the Open Campus program that encourages collaborative partnerships between the ARL and universities for the advancement of ARL technologies for the warfighter.
“We are thrilled to have brought ARL Central into the Army’s expanding science and technology ecosystem,” said ARL Director Dr. Philip Perconti. “Allowing the Army to tap into an extraordinary pool of talent across the central region will help the Army maintain technological leadership in an ever-increasingly complex global environment.” Perconti (see photo) said that working with regional partners will set new technological directions and provide new perspectives on Army problems, helping to solve current and future problems.
In addition, noted John Flavin, associate vice president for entrepreneurship and innovation at the University of Chicago, “This provides additional momentum for the growing ecosystem on Chicago’s South Side, which will play a major part in the next generation of technological breakthroughs and economic development for the entire region.” The partnership with the University of Chicago will be based at the school’s Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation in Hyde Park, with ARL research teams present at a number of other regional locations.
“The University of Chicago will serve as the hub for our efforts to increase our research portfolio in materials science,” Perconti explained. “We look forward to maturing our collaborations with the University of Chicago and all the academic institutions that will make up ARL Central, to include Northwestern University, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, University of Illinois at Chicago, Purdue University, Notre Dame, and the University of Wisconsin, as well as industrial institutions.”
