TOPICS & CATEGORIES
By Dolly Rairigh Glass
Looking at additional opportunities to bring industry and Team Orlando members together to share in clever innovations and new partnerships, twelve companies participated in the first ever Team Orlando Industry Capability Day hosted by the National Center for Simulation (NCS) on Jan. 30. The half-day event allowed these companies to showcase any new and exciting capabilities for acquisition and professional personnel from all Team Orlando commands in an environment that was inviting and comfortable, and a venue right in their backyard.
More than 200 visitors attended the first Team Orlando Industry Capability Day.
The idea was well received in the community, with more than 200 visitors during the five-hour event. Because of its success, NCS announced that Team Orlando Industry Capability Day will increase the participating companies to 14 and that it will be held quarterly, with the Spring Team Orlando Industry Capability Day scheduled for Wednesday, April 16, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
“Industry Capability Day gives the government an opportunity to see and learn about some upcoming and innovative ideas from industry, which is always an important step as we continue to improve,” said Rob Matthews, Deputy Technical Director, Naval Air Warfare Center Training Systems Division. “It also provides an additional forum for all of the services to discuss what’s working for us and what’s not. That information fuels collaboration across the commands to maximize our resources.”
Dr. Neal Finkelstein, listening to one of the Industry Capability Day participants, was one of the many attendees who found the event very informative and convenient.
Dr. Neal Finkelstein, Branch Chief, U.S. Army Research Laboratory, said he liked the idea of a dozen companies in one spot, and for him, it was even better that it was easily accessible by walking across the street. “It was a perfect concept for our needs,” Finkelstein said. “We all rely on I/ITSEC every year, but some of these companies that want exposure to the Services can’t afford to exhibit at I/ITSEC. Events like today give them a spot, and exposure to Team Orlando, and that makes good business sense for both parties.”
Finkelstein said he and his colleagues were so impressed with one of the products from participant vendor, 3D Avatar Store, they’re already testing it for an Office of Secretary of Defense Joint Robotics project they are working on with University of Central Florida.
“Team Orlando Industry Capability Day has the potential to save the Services hundreds of hours each quarter,” Finkelstein said. “Typically, we all spend hours setting up agendas and hosting companies at our own facilities, trying to glean the latest and greatest in technology for our own M&S consumption, and many times only a few people can show up for each company. Now we can send an email referral to JTIEC and they take care of everything for us.”
NCS is currently accepting paperwork for companies interested in participating in the April 16 Spring Industry Capability Day. Companies that submit paperwork but are not among the first 14, are automatically queued for consideration in future events. For more information, visit www.simulationinformation.com or email industryday@simulationinformation.com.
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