The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency signed a Partnership Intermediary Agreement, or PIA, with T-Rex innovation and entrepreneur center in St. Louis Feb. 17.

PIAs help industry and academia leverage government developed data and technology.

The agreement with T-Rex will support NGA’s vision for the development of the next generation workforce and geospatial technology to address evolving challenges to national security, said Phil Chudoba, NGA’s associate director for capabilities.

“We are excited to partner with T-Rex and explore ways to leverage the deep ties T-REX has within the geospatial sector,” said Chudoba.

The PIA allows NGA to engage with non-traditional organizations, companies and small businesses to transfer technology, drive the geospatial market and conduct pre-acquisition discovery support. General objectives outlined in the agreement include increasing STEM capacity in underserved communities, creating a repository of unclassified imagery and data to support academic and industry engagement and leveraging university researchers to contribute to innovation.