In this episode of the Georgia Tech Research Podcast, host Chelsea Selby talks to GTRI's Mark S. Whorton, Ph.D., GTRI's Chief Technology Officer, about GTRI's Independent Research and Development (IRAD) program. They discuss what the program entails; what makes a good IRAD project; and IRADs' impact on GTRI and the larger society. This episode is in anticipation of GTRI's June 17 IRAD Extravaganza.

Talking Points:

• The IRAD program funds discretionary research within Georgia Tech.
• The eight GTRI labs know the sponsors' needs and interests best. The IRAD program focuses on enabling those developments within the labs that are needed by the sponsors.
• Georgia Tech and GTRI have a broad range of funding categories we invest in, tailored either towards lab strategies or Institute-level strategies.
• Working across the different organizations is a very important aspect of the research we do.