U.S. ARMY DETROIT ARSENAL, WARREN, Mich. – The U.S. Army Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center (TARDEC) will host a ribbon cutting ceremony on Dec. 16 to initiate the start of hydrogen fuel cell testing with GM at the U.S. Army’s new Ground System Power and Energy Laboratory (GSPEL). The event also will highlight and celebrate numerous Cooperative Research and Development Agreements (CRADAs) that TARDEC has collaborated with industry partners on throughout the years to enhance awareness of innovative technologies critical to enabling military ground systems and future energy capabilities.
 
At the GSPEL grand opening last year, U.S. Army officials encouraged industry and academic stakeholders to partner with government scientists and engineers to use the GSPEL’s new high-tech facilities to develop new dual-use power and mobility solutions that would benefit both industry and military researchers.
 
“Through CRADAs, the Army has the opportunity to leverage its research and development efforts with industry,” explained TARDEC Director Dr. Paul Rogers. “A goal of TARDEC is to demonstrate a battlefield fuel reduction to reduce the logistical burden on our warfighters. CRADAs, such as the one with GM, will assist in maturing and accelerating technologies critical to the Army’s future ground vehicle platforms.”
 
CRADAs are established between federal laboratories and commercial, academic or nonprofit partners to facilitate technology transfer between the parties for mutual benefit. Under a CRADA, the partner may contribute resources such as personnel, services, property and funding to the effort. The government can contribute all of the above except funding. CRADAs also allow for the negotiation of licensing arrangements for patented inventions developed at the laboratories.