Northrop Grumman to Sponsor WBT Innovation Marketplace for Second Consecutive Year

Bringing the Most Diverse Collection of Technologies and Companies Together, the WBT Innovation Marketplace Returns to San Diego

San Diego, CA September 12, 2013


For the second consecutive year, Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) has signed on as the title sponsor of WBT (World's Best Technologies) Innovation Marketplace, a two-day conference that helps startups, universities, and federal labs commercialize seed and early stage emerging technologies.

WBT Innovation Marketplace 2013 will take place Oct. 22-23 at the Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina in San Diego. The conference brings together the most diverse collection of vetted and mentored companies and technologies emanating from top universities, labs, research institutions and the private sector from across the globe. More than 10 years of research has shown that one in three WBT presenters goes on to license, secure venture funding, or sell their intellectual property outright.

"Like Northrop Grumman, WBT Innovation Marketplace fosters an entrepreneurial spirit and provides a platform for visionaries and problem-solvers," said Jim Zortman, site manager Unmanned Systems Center of Excellence, Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems.

"As a major jobs generator for the region, Northrop Grumman is a primary anchor of San Diego's innovation economy," said Mark Cafferty, president and CEO of the San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation, one of the hosts. "Northrop Grumman's support of WBT is yet another example of its leadership and dedication to this important sector."

For the first time, WBT has joined forces with the Global CONNECT Summit, a conference designed for U.S. and international regional innovation organizations that want to expand their technology clusters. WBT 2013 is co-hosted by CONNECT and San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation. Please note, the official event hashtags are #WBT2013 and #InnovateatWBT.

About Northrop Grumman

Northrop Grumman is a leading global security company providing innovative systems, products and solutions in unmanned systems, cyber, C4ISR, and logistics and modernization to government and commercial customers worldwide. Please visit http://www.northropgrumman.com for more information.

About WBT Innovation Marketplace

The WBT Innovation Marketplace is the world's premier showcase converging revolutionary new energy, life science, nanotech, material science and information technologies to seed limitless solutions for current market needs. Attendees will experience an unparalleled forum that is both deal-focused and unbiased with regard to geography, funding source or originating research institution. Additional information can be found by visiting http://www.wbtshowcase.com or @WBTMarketplace.

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