The Innovation Bridge is a faculty-led, applied research institute motivated by the need for the University and Navy commands at Naval Base Ventura County (NBVC) to have sustainable and robust ways to engage with one another. The Innovation Bridge will be a portal to facilitate and catalyze partnerships.
Our immediate Navy partner will be . The Innovation Bridge will promote academic engagement with Fathomwerx programming that includes , the , and Project R, as well as command-specific programming that include the and .
To enhance the strategic reach of Fathomwerx programming, we will establish targeted engagement initiatives with all regional universities across San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Ventura, and Kern counties. We aim to facilitate interdisciplinary collaboration, drive technological innovation, and cultivate a robust ecosystem for applied research and industry integration.
A secondary goal of the Innovation Bridge is to leverage the region’s unique assets, such as the Point Mugu Test Range, to enhance global economic competitiveness and stimulate regional growth. In our first year, we will prioritize the development of the autonomous air mobility sector. Aligning with the County of Ventura’s strategic priorities to cultivate a thriving business environment, we will actively collaborate on Economic Vitality initiatives that support advanced air mobility, as well as broader efforts in technology, innovation, and entrepreneurship.
There are other causes and ideas that the Innovation Bridge wants to embrace (e.g., entrepreneurship, public policy). Right now, during our soft launch period, we are going to stay focused and deliberate on our primary purpose (Navy partnerships) as we develop models and processes for engaging with the community. We expect a public launch out of work in Fall 2025 to coincide with the in mid-October.
Watch this space as the Innovation Bridge ramps up its activities this spring and summer.