U.S., Royal Navies Cut Ribbon at London Innovation Hub.

• Author: Easley, Mikayla
• Position: DISPATCHES

LONDON--After operating virtually for more than a year, the U.S. Navy's tech bridge network recently opened its London-based office.

The London Tech Bridge is a conduit for innovation between the U.S. Navy and British Royal Navy. The partnership aims to accelerate technology development and cooperation between the military, industry and academia from both countries.

With its new facilities, the program plans to host more in-person events and foster more dialogue between the two navies and potential partners, U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Lorin Selby, chief of naval research, said in June during the office's ribboncutting ceremony in Central London.

"There is nothing like looking at my partners in industry eye to eye as we sit down to talk about the future and the systems we need," he said. "That has to be done in person, and having a place like this where we can all come together to talk about our problems and talk about solutions--that's what this is all about."

The London office is part of the network of "tech bridges" powered by the U.S. Naval Agility Office, or NavalX. The program is designed to help nontraditional acquisition partners--like startups, small businesses, academia or nonprofits--find a path to work with the Navy.

Of the service's 18 tech bridges, the London Tech Bridge is one of two international outposts. The other is located in Yokosuka, Japan.

Since it was initially established in December 2020, the London Tech Bridge has operated virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic. During that time, the office built its network and found areas of collaboration between the two navies, said Laurence Mallinson, the U.K. codirector of the London Tech Bridge.

"We're looking for opportunities that the Royal Navy and the U.S. Navy could exploit," he said. "Where do we have problems that we want to solve with technology, and where might technology exist that we need to bring into the hands of the warfighters quicker?"

Rear Adm. James Parkin CBE, Royal Navy director develop, noted the importance of the tech bridge's location for...