Virginia Tech is among eight U.S. research universities who will join with Motorola Mobility’s Advanced Technology and Projects (ATAP) group on a  Multi-University Research Agreement that will streamline the generation of new joint research projects and pave the way for closer cooperation on the development of fundamental new technologies.

In addition to Virginia Tech, the signatories include Motorola, California Institute of Technology, Carnegie Mellon University, Harvard University, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Stanford University, and Texas A&M University.

By reducing the time and complexity needed to establish new research projects through the use of common strategies and terms, the agreement forges a faster and more seamless way of working with leading research universities, one that matches the speed and agility needed for ATAP projects. 

The use of a single, universal agreement with all eight universities will enable Motorola’s ATAP and researchers in these universities to engage in research projects across a wide range, such as a single university researcher on a short-term research project, or a larger, cross-disciplinary and multi-university research effort. And to do so in less than 30 days, rather than the several months that traditional sponsored research agreements can often take to establish.

“The multi-university agreement is really the first of its kind,” said Kaigham J. Gabriel, vice president and deputy director of ATAP. “Such an agreement has the potential to be a national model for how companies and universities work together to speed innovation and U.S. competitiveness, while staying true to their individual missions and cultures.”

“When we started six months ago, people told us we were crazy; that this couldn’t be done. But we found power in the similarity of our goal – to do great work faster and with fewer barriers – and a group of committed individuals made it so,” said Regina E. Dugan, senior vice president and director of ATAP.

“We believe this agreement will speed the transfer of technology to the public sector through a smarter, quicker approach that still has all the safeguards of the traditional contracting process,” said Robert Walters, vice president for research. “To be included in this prototype group of universities reflects Virginia Tech’s expertise in cutting-edge technologies and our commitment to facilitate innovative and efficient collaboration mechanisms with industry.”

Dedicated to its motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), Virginia Tech takes a hands-on, engaging approach to education, preparing scholars to be leaders in their fields and communities. As the commonwealth’s most comprehensive university and its leading research institution, Virginia Tech offers 240 undergraduate and graduate degree programs to more than 31,000 students and manages a research portfolio of $513 million. The university fulfills its land-grant mission of transforming knowledge to practice through technological leadership and by fueling economic growth and job creation locally, regionally, and across Virginia.

This story was provided by Gabe Madway at Motorola Mobility.

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