Lockheed Martin is partnering with three universities to establish a program in Huntsville, Alabama, 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 US Department of Defense's Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR), Technology Transfer (STTR) and Mentor Protege programs. Collaborating with Lockheed Martin Space Systems Co. are Auburn University, Tuskegee University, and University of Alabama.

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, DC, and San Diego, California.

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 today announced its plans to support the US Cyber Challenge (USCC), an initiative designed to create a pipeline of cybersecurity professionals from high school through college and beyond. Its unique use of multiple and scalable talent competitions and talent development initiatives enables individuals to develop their skills, gain access to advanced training and achieve recognition with scholarships, internships and jobs.

"Protecting our competitive advantage and digital infrastructure requires the expertise of trained cyber security professionals. We realize that Lockheed Martin's leadership in cybersecurity and STEM efforts can only succeed through partnership with organizations such as the US Cyber Challenge," said Charles Croom, vice President of Cyber Security Solutions, Lockheed Martin Information Systems & Global Solutions.

Recent studies have shown that while there is a shortage of technical workers, the field of cybersecurity is rapidly evolving. In fact, former federal officials have estimated there are only 1,000 US security specialists with the skills necessary to operate in cyberspace and the country needs about 10,000 to 30,000 such professionals.

USCC—a division of the not-for-profit Center for Internet Security—develops and conducts online competitions and on-site camps where talented people will be discovered, nurtured, and progress toward careers as technical cyber security experts. The ultimate goal is to reduce the risk profile for the nation in the critical area of cyber security professionals.

Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global security company that employs about 133,000 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 2009 sales from continuing operations were $44 billion.