The two organizations hope to forge stronger public-private partnerships in the southern Gulf region.
The Mississippi Science and Technology Enterprise (MSET) and the Federal Laboratory Consortium (FLC) are working to collaborate between federal laboratories and small businesses to promote economic development in the Southern Bay Area.
The two reached an agreement on November 7, 2022 by signing a memorandum of understanding.
The FLC was previously a chartered nationwide network of more than 300 federal laboratories, agencies and research centers.
MSET was established through a joint effort of the state, NASA, and Mississippi institutions of higher education to promote regional development by leveraging the resources of the Stennis Space Center and the rest of Mississippi.
“The partnership with MSET will help foster more public-private partnerships in the Southern Gulf region and the Stennis Space Center, opening up opportunities for innovative technology, job creation and economic expansion,” said FLC Executive Director Paul Zielinski. The FLC applauds the growing support for technology transfer we’ve seen in the region, and we’re excited to help MSET and its partners build on this momentum.”
According to MSET communications specialist Abigail Douglas, the partnership isn’t just for the Gulf region. The expansion of those resources could affect various parts of Mississippi as well as contractors and businesses outside the state who will be working within the state, she said.
The agreement comes after the Naval Surface Warfare Center in Panama City created an outreach agency to connect high-tech companies with federal contracting needs.
This partnership will allow FLC and MSET to encourage collaboration between federal laboratories and regional businesses to improve technologies outside the laboratory and into the marketplace. The pair plan to participate in mutually beneficial meetings, sponsorships and special events, especially to promote the development of the South Gulf region through the Stennis Space Center.
“I am proud of our new agreement with FLC. This public-private partnership will expand MSET client companies’ access to resources and expertise, strengthen the Stennis Space Center, and boost economic development in Mississippi and our region,” said MSET President and CEO Davis Pace.
Businesses interested in learning how to apply for and receive federal contracts can visit the Business Resources page at www.mset.org. This will provide information on how to begin the process of becoming a federal entity contractor.
For anyone ready to apply for a contract, they can visit www.SAM.gov to view current open federal contracts.