HUNTSVILLE, Ala., Aug. 17, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) today announced that it is partnering with three universities to establish a program in Huntsville, Ala., that will support small businesses and universities participating in federal technology programs.

Called the Lockheed Martin Innovation Marketplace, the program will support private sector and academic sector technologists in participating in the Department of Defense's Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR), Technology Transfer (STTR) and Mentor Protege programs. Collaborating with Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company are Auburn University, Auburn, Ala., Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, Ala., and University of Alabama in Huntsville.

"Working together, Lockheed Martin and our university partners will further increase our active support of Department of Defense programs for small business and academic technology research," said John W. Holly, vice president of Missile Defense Systems, Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company. "This local-level initiative will provide national-level benefits by helping bring more cutting-edge technologies into the systems our war fighters rely upon to defend our country."

Joining Holly in signing a collaboration agreement today at the Space and Missile Defense Conference in Huntsville were: Dr. Rodney Robertson, executive director of Auburn University's Huntsville Research Center, Dr. Shaik Jeelani, vice president of Tuskegee University's division of research and sponsored programs; and Dr. John Horack, vice president for research for University of Alabama in Huntsville.

The Lockheed Martin Innovation Marketplace will focus on supporting emerging technology for missile defense applications. As part of the program, Lockheed Martin will provide a center on its Bradford Drive campus in Huntsville. The center will open by the end of this year and initially will provide researchers with a conference room with meeting and work space, as well as high-speed network connections to similar Lockheed Martin centers such as those in Washington, D.C., and San Diego, Calif. The company plans to expand the facility in 2012 to include a technology test bed where researchers will be able to plug their new products into a simulation environment to assess interoperability with existing Lockheed Martin and government systems.

Lockheed Martin Space Systems employs more than 800 people in Huntsville and Courtland in the company's Missile Defense Systems operating unit. The company performs program management and engineering for key missile defense contracts in Huntsville and missile defense assembly, integration and test services in Courtland.

Lockheed Martin leads the industry in performance and domain expertise in strategic missile and missile defense systems. Lockheed Martin designs and produces ballistic missiles, interceptors, target missiles and reentry systems with unmatched reliability. Lockheed Martin's focus on operational excellence yields affordable high-quality systems and services.

Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global security company that employs about 126,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The Corporation's 2010 sales from continuing operations were $45.8 billion.

Media Contact:
Lynn Fisher, 408-742-7606; cell 408-505-6026; lynn.m.fisher@lmco.com

SOURCE Lockheed Martin