3 image collage – image 1 is a soldier standing at sunset, with helicopters and military vehicles in the background. Image 2 is an aerial view of MSU Bozeman’s campus covered in snow, with the Bridger Mountain Range in the background. Image 3 is a group of soldiers in the front with helicopters flying in the background.

Montana State University (MSU) has a strong track record of supporting national security interests, including the Department of Defense (DOD) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), through its research programs.

TechLink, established in 1996, and MilTech, established in 2004, both national partnership intermediaries, have been pivotal in supporting the US Department of Defense. Building on over two decades of service to the US Government, OTTR was established in 2023. While TechLink and MilTech focus on the DOD, OTTR extends its support to industry and academia, facilitating the advancement of technologies for government customers.

A major challenge facing the federal laboratory and acquisitions communities today is achieving successful technology transition to support end users. This challenge encompasses moving technologies from federal development to use by the military or private sector, as well as integrating new technologies from industry back into use within federal programs. The difficulty in crossing this "Technology Valley of Death" results in costs in terms of money, time, and effort. This inefficiency hampers the system's ability to ensure optimal support for end-users, leading to missed opportunities for advancing the technology-focused industrial base, national economy, and overall national success.

The Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) acknowledges this challenge and continuously seeks new and innovative approaches to address it. While existing programs have achieved varying levels of success, there are still numerous issues that hinder our ability to effectively transition technology throughout the defense establishment.

Drawing on its extensive experience working with the DOD and other Government programs facing technology translation challenges, Montana State University has established the Office of Technology Translation (OTTR). OTTR serves as a key resource for the DOD and Government, aiming to improve the transfer and transition process. OTTR also helps entities involved in the development process understand the techniques, best practices, and institutional methods that lead to successful technology translation.