History

The Foundational Age

1925

Articles of Incorporation papers were filed for the estate of Gordon Battelle, officially founding the Battelle Memorial Institute.

^$3.7_M*

to launch a legacy of solving the world's most pressing challenges

*$55 million in today's dollars

A Family Legacy

In 1920, Gordon Battelle wrote his last will and testament, which would later create the Battelle Memorial Institute. Three years later, he died unexpectedly at the age of 40 after complications from an appendectomy. Gordon Battelle bequeathed half of his estate to create the Institute. His mother, Annie, who died two years later, left the balance of the family fortune to the Institute, bringing the total endowment to $3.7 million.

Annie Battelle

1929

Battelle completes construction of its first building in Columbus, Ohio, the first of many to support a growing company and the start of an important relationship with the central Ohio community.

60,000

Square feet tolaunch the institute

Breaking Ground

The cornerstone of the original building was placed on October 3, 1929. The cornerstone box contained copies of portions of Gordon Battelle's will, a booklet describing the building project and the original architect's drawings.

1929

An early Battelle project, Aluminum Foil for Reynolds Metals Company, begins.

A product used by

316_M

Americans Today

Optimizing Metal for Everyday Use

In 1929, Battelle partnered with the Reynolds Metals Company on Battelle's second-ever research project, Project S-2: Aluminum Foil. In 1947, the Reynolds Metals Company released Reynolds Wrap Aluminum Foil. In the years to come, Battelle's expertise in metallurgy created a foundation for advanced materials research.

1930

Battelle completes the first metal creep test units and puts them into operation. Research begins immediately for the Worthington Pump and Machinery Corporation.

Turning It up to

1832^°F*

*Creep tests were conducted at up to 1832°.

Forging Flight for the Jet Age

Battelle has always been known for its metallurgic research prowess. Its research on iron and steel and additives such as molybdenum, sand mixtures, binders and metallurgical techniques led the world into the era of high-temperature materials needed for aeronautical and space flight.

1932

Battelle's first patent, "Bearing Alloys," was issued on June 21 to H.W. Gillett and Howard Cross. It was assigned patent #US1,864,240.

2.5_K

Patents Issued

And Still Going

Starting a Licensing Legacy

Battelle's first U.S. patent was filed in 1932 by inventors Horace W. Gillett, Battelle's first president, and Howard Cross. Both men were recognized at the time as two of the world's foremost metallurgists. This was the first of many patents to be assigned to Battelle over the decades in all areas of science and technology.

1935

Battelle's second president, Clyde Williams, pioneers the concept of contract research for industrial development.

Photo of Battelle Memorial Institute Journal

Leading The Way

In Research for All

Making Research History

Prior to the 1930s, most companies did not invest in research and development. Those that did performed simple experiments in small laboratories. Gordon Battelle's vision was to change this and find a way to provide high-quality research to industry. To bring this vision to life, second president Clyde Williams pioneered the concept of the “contract research business,” a company that provides support to industry in the form of research services outsourced on a contract basis.

Next: The Industrial Atomic Age Explore

Back to Ages

The Industrial Atomic Age

1939

Battelle receives a government contract to improve armor plating for tanks.

Helping to protect More Than

16_M

Soldiers

in Warfare

An Armored Fleet

Battelle’s first government contract came from the U.S. Army to improve armor plating for tanks in order to protect Allied soldiers on the battlefield during WWII. The project was done at cost to support the U.S. war effort. Battelle also contributed the minds and managerial skills of its top solvers throughout WWII to help win the war. That mission continues to this day as Battelle builds armored commercial vehicles for U.S. military forces.

Recognition

1944: Battelle receives the Ordnance Distinguished Service Award for welding techniques and the development of platings and coatings that increased the life of weapons and equipment from the U.S. Army.

Photo of Battelle holding Ordnance Distinguished Service Award

1942

Battelle discovers adding copper to fertilizer increases crop yields.

Discovering

Element

29^’s

Ability to improve Crop Production

Active Advancements in Agriculture

Battelle first identified the benefits of copper for improved crop yield in 1942. This research was the catalyst for copper-related fertilizer research for decades to come. Today, copper remains one of eight essential plant micronutrients and is required for many enzymatic activities in plants and for chlorophyll and seed production. Deficiency of copper can lead to increased susceptibility to diseases like ergot, which can cause significant yield loss in small grains.

1943

Battelle embarks on a program of atomic research leading to uranium fuel rod production for the Manhattan Project.

1^st

Nuclear Reactor

Designed For Continuous Operation

Formalizing Fuel Elements

Battelle extruded uranium used for the fuel elements for the world’s first full-scale nuclear reactor at Oak Ridge, Tennessee. Today, Oak Ridge National Laboratory is the largest U.S. Department of Energy science and energy laboratory, conducting basic and applied research to deliver transformative solutions to compelling problems in energy and security.

1946

Battelle is recognized for “Unique and meritorious contributions to the Atomic Bomb Project.”

1945:

An end To WWII

The Secret Weapon’s Secret Weapon

Four hundred of Battelle's best and brightest solvers played a critical role in the top secret Manhattan Project. Fabricating plutonium from uranium to be used in the nuclear core of atomic weapons, their contributions helped the U.S. avoid a ground invasion of Japan and brought about the conclusion of WWII.

Image of Chemical Enginneering Achievement Award

Recognition

Battelle receives Chemical Engineering Achievement from the Manhattan Engineer District for “unique and meritorious contributions to the Atomic Bomb project.”

1947

The Elgin Watch Company debuts Elgiloy, an antimagnetic, rustproof “super alloy” invented at Battelle.

Changing time for The first time in

200

Years

A Place in Time

Battelle is credited with the research leading to the “greatest watchmaking advance since the use of jewels for bearings” in an article on the Elgin Watch Company’s new Elgiloy, which appeared in the March 5 issue of The New York Times. The same alloy was later used for the mechanical valve for the artificial human heart. Today, the Elgin Watch company is called Elgiloy, a company that continues to produce more than 40 high-performance alloys.

1948

Battelle begins the development of nuclear fuel for the USS Nautilus.

500_K

Miles Steamed

Powering History

Jules Verne’s fictional Nautilus may have been powered by seawater, but it would take the solvers of Battelle to provide the nuclear fuel for its U.S. Navy counterpart, which on August 3, 1958 became the first nuclear-powered submarine to navigate to the North Pole. Not only did this open uncharted waters for scientific exploration and discovery, the Nautilus was heralded as a symbol of this country’s pioneering spirit. In service for 25 years, it broke almost all existing records and could travel underwater at speeds in excess of 20 knots.

Photo of Submarine with Flag Draped Over It

Outcome

Battelle’s David Minton and Hank Saller were invited to the launching of the Nautilus, the Navy’s first atomic-powered submarine. The invitation was extended in recognition of Battelle’s contribution to its development.

1954

Battelle purchases land in West Jefferson, Ohio, to build the first private nuclear reactor.

1_st

Atomic Energy

For commercial use

Splitting Atoms for Nuclear Energy

On January 26, Battelle broke ground on the world’s first privately financed atomic research center, designed specifically to provide research services for industry. In 1956, Battelle’s lab was used by industry in the development of reactors for power production and propulsion.

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Back to Ages

The Acceleration Age

1955

Battelle debuts the xerographic machine with Haloid.

5_Billion

Scans

Around the World Today

A Providential Turn

In 1944, Battelle was approached by a New York patent attorney named Chester F. Carlson, who had unsuccessfully shopped his dry-copy process to dozens of companies. Battelle's solvers saw potential. Partnering with Carlson and the Haloid Co. of Rochester, N.Y., it refined what came to be known as xerography. Like many technologies Battelle develops, it took years before the world would catch up and understand its necessity.

Before the Xerox, when an important letter arrived, only a small number of higher-ups clapped eyes on it. The original would circulate from office to office, with a “routing slip” showing who'd read it and where it should travel next. But after the photocopier arrived, employees began copying magazine articles and white papers that they felt everyone else should see and circulating them with abandon. Wrote a memo? Why not send it to everyone? Copying was liberating.

Clive Thompson Smithsonian Magazine

1965

Battelle starts support of UPC code development.

12

Digits

That changed retail Forever

Universally Changing the Retail Game

Several types of barcodes were submitted to the Super Market Institute for testing by Battelle. In 1973, the 12-digit linear UPC code submitted by IBM was chosen as the standard for industry.

Outcome

On June 26, 1974, a supermarket in Troy, Ohio, sold a pack of Juicy Fruit gum as the first retail item with an official UPC code and a scanner.

Photo of Wrigley's Juciy Fruit Chewing Gum

1965

Battelle wins its first federal contract to manage a national lab, the Pacific Northwest Laboratory.

2.7_K

U.S. & Foreign Patents

At PNNL Since 1965

Photo of Battelle featured in News Paper

Navigating National Needs

In 1965, Battelle was selected by the federal government to manage the Pacific Northwest Laboratory (PNL). PNL is one of 17 Department of Energy (DOE) national laboratories. PNL has been operated by Battelle for more than 50 years, responsible for performing interdisciplinary research for other DOE offices as well as government agencies, universities, and industry to deliver breakthrough science and technology to meet today's key national needs.

Today

Battelle oversees more than 27,000 employees at eight laboratories around the nation. These U.S. Department of Energy and Department of Homeland Security labs deliver unmatched capabilities that drive scientific discovery, inspire innovation and solve what matters most.

1965

Battelle research leads to copper core and copper nickel alloy cladded “sandwich coins” for the U.S. Treasury Department.

3

Metal Layers

For a More Efficient Mint

Coining History

The Battelle research report “A Study of Alloys Suitable for Use as United States Coinage” led to a fundamental shift in the way the U.S. Treasury mints coins. It is believed that mint processes can be adapted to manufacture multilayer composites without difficulty.

1967

Battelle begins the “Transit in Columbus” study to identify effective public transportation efficiencies and enters large-scale transportation research.

Connecting

879_K

Columbus Citizens

Moving the People

In 1967, Battelle provided $85,000 to a joint transportation study with the City of Columbus. The goal was to identify methods of achieving effective public transport for the Columbus/Franklin County area. The following year, Battelle completed a HUD-sponsored study that identified 22 research, development and demonstration tasks that could be undertaken to improve the nation's urban transportation.

Today

Battelle continues work to improve the transportation in the Columbus community as a strategic partner in the Smart Columbus project.

Next: The Space Age Explore

Back to Ages

The Space Age

1969

While the whole world was observing one of mankind's greatest achievements, numerous Battelle solvers watched in silence and awe–proud of the contributions they made to the Apollo 11 project.

One

Small Step

Supporting the Space Race

Battelle supported the American space race with studies in combustion, electronics, energy conversion, life support, coatings, lubrication, materials, propellants, radiation effects and electronic mechanical reliability.

1974

Battelle, in collaboration with the Digital Recording Corporation, files the first digital-to-optical recording and playbook system patent for CD-ROM development.

Going Digital in the

^$19.1*

Billion

Music Industry

*2018 global music industry worth

A Sound Heard Around the World

In 1974, Pacific Northwest Researcher James Russell patented a way to record tiny “bits” of light and dark, each one a micron in diameter, and a laser to read the tiny “pits” (binary patterns), as well as a computer to convert the data into an electrical signal. This process was called Optical Digital Recording (ODR). Battelle asked Russell to apply it to digitizing and reproducing music. Eventually, Sony and Philips licensed it, establishing a proprietary ODR format for audio called “Compact Disc” (CD), and delivered a commercial product in 1982, followed in 1985 with a related ODR for data called CD-ROM.

1974

Battelle develops a revolutionary photovoltaic cell that improves the cost-effectiveness of solar energy.

Potential for

39^%*

Of the nation's Electricity Use

*In 2016, analysts at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory used detailed light detection and ranging data for 128 cities nationwide. The analysis revealed a technical potential of 1,118 gigawatts (GW) of capacity and 1,432 terawatts (TWh) annual energy generation, equivalent to 39% of the nation's electricity sales.

Advancing the Promise of Solar

In 1974, Battelle patented a process for depositing thin films on solar cells with the promise of greatly reducing manufacturing costs for solar photovoltaic cells. Battelle's early contributions to solar technology also included a solar-powered engine and various compounds for collecting and storing photochemical energy.

Today

Battelle plays a management and operations role at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, home to the National Center for Photovoltaics, which works to advance the state of the art across the full spectrum of photovoltaic research and development.

1974

Solar sail research begins at Battelle in support of interstellar space exploration.

1^st

Solar Sail

Demonstration Of Viability

Sailing Through the Solar System

While NASA initially funded a variety of early solar sail studies, the research was put on hold in the early 1970s. NASA originally asked Battelle engineer Jerome Wright to examine what kind of rocket system could launch a solar sail into space. Wright, determined to prove the viability of solar sails, took the analysis a step further by running the numbers on potential solar sail missions to other planets.

Today

The Planetary Society's LightSail 2, deployed on June 23, 2019, is:

The first spacecraft to use solar sailing for propulsion in Earth orbit
The first small spacecraft to demonstrate solar sailing
The second-ever solar sail spacecraft to successfully fly, following Japan's IKAROS launch in 2010

1986

Battelle is recognized by NASA for work that helped lead to the successful photographic mission of Uranus by the Voyager II spacecraft.

First Photo of Uranus from

7.8_M

Miles Away

Documenting The 3rd Largest Planet

The first photograph of Uranus was taken in 1986 thanks in part to research done at Battelle. In 1986, Battelle employees were recognized for the technical assistance they provided to help the Jet Propulsion Laboratory diagnose and solve a lubrication problem with Voyager’s camera scan platform that aims the spacecraft’s cameras during planetary approach and flyby.

1987

Battelle, Mitsubishi and Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation form Photon Integration Research Inc. (PIRI) to commercialize fiber optic technologies.

20

Patents

For Fiber Optics

Transmitting Light Signals

In 1971, Battelle perfected and patented a system of transferring information through the modulation of a laser beam, providing the catalyst for their early fiber optics work. Years later in 1987, Battelle joined forces with Mitsubishi and Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation to form the Photon Integration Research Inc. (PIRI) to commercialize fiber optic technologies. This partnership contributed to the proliferation of fiber optics and digital technologies.

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The Biotech Age

1989

Battelle accelerates research into biodefense and biodetection technologies.

More than

650

Programs Supported

Implementing Biological Defenses

Since 1989, Battelle supported military and civilian objectives through more than 650 programs in the development of biological and chemical defense systems, materials, vaccines and preventive measures. Today, Battelle continues to provide unique capabilities and expertise in biodefense, environmental safety and health, food safety, logistics, information management, public health and training.

Photo of Biological Viruis under Microscope

1990

Battelle's first experiment is carried onboard Space Shuttle Discovery.

0

Gravity

Needed to Succeed

Processing Polymers in Space

Battelle's first experiment in space was aboard the April 1990 launch of the Space Shuttle Discovery. For this experiment, “Polymer Membrane Processing,” researchers worked to improve the uniformity of thin–film polymer membranes. The membranes, which are used for commercial applications such as kidney dialysis and blood filtering, form differently in space than they do under the influence of gravity in the laboratory.

1993

Battelle develops “fingerprinting” techniques to determine the origins of oil-based hazardous waste.

Fingerprint Technologies

For Tracing Ecological Damage

Determining the Origins of Hazardous Waste

In 1993, Battelle researchers developed a technique to determine the origins of oil–based hazardous waste–even decades after a spill occurred. Weathering makes it difficult to identify a substance over time. But Battelle developed the ability to identify fingerprints in hydrocarbons, even after advanced hydration.

Today

Today, Battelle is applying similar fingerprinting technologies to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in groundwater and soil.

1993

Battelle begins work on destroying the United States' aging chemical weapons stockpile.

Protecting

98^%*

Of the global population

*98% of the global population live under the Chemical Weapons Convention today

Destroying Stockpiles

Battelle has worked on the front lines of chemical weapons demilitarization for three decades. In 1993, the U.S. signed the Chemical Weapons Convention, agreeing to destroy remaining stockpiles of chemical agents. Battelle was selected by the Department of Defense to help destroy chemical agents in existing stockpiles, safely dispose of residual waste and close the sites in an environmentally responsible manner. While several sites have already been closed, Battelle provides continued support at the two remaining stockpiles in Pueblo, Colorado, and Bluegrass, Kentucky.

2003

Battelle is selected by the U.S. Department of Energy to explore the viability of carbon sequestration.

Reducing

CO₂

In the Earth's Atmosphere

Mitigating Climate Change

In 2003, Battelle was selected by the U.S. Department of Energy to lead a group of public and private partners to explore the viability of carbon sequestration as a key climate change mitigation technology. Battelle researchers have been working since the 1990s to explore the potential of using deep geologic formations to store CO₂ captured from power plants, petrochemical facilities, biofuels and other industrial sources.

Today

Battelle is a global leader in developing strategies for real-world carbon management solutions.

Next: The Global Guardian Age Explore

Back to Ages

The Global Guardian Age

2006

Battelle is selected to manage the National Biodefense Analysis and Countermeasures Center in Maryland.

1^st

National Laboratory

For the department of Homeland Security

Defending the Nation Against Biological Threats

In 2006, Battelle was selected by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to manage the National Biodefense Analysis and Countermeasures Center (NBACC). This is the first national laboratory created by the DHS. The mission of NBACC is to understand current and future biological threats, assess vulnerabilities, determine potential consequences and provide a national capability for conducting forensic analysis on biocrimes and bioterrorism.

The NBACC's twin mission of threat characterization and bioforensics are essential and critical for our nation's long-term biosecurity and for the continuous, real-time needs of federal law enforcement.

Dr. George W. Korch, Jr. Director, National Biodefense Analysis and Countermeasures Center

2011

Cyber innovations research begins at Battelle.

A 20_X

Increase

In Cyber Researchers And Engineers Since 2011

Enhancing the Nation's Cyber Force

Battelle has been trusted by government clients to solve some of their most perplexing cyber challenges and prepare for the changing cyber landscape of tomorrow. Battelle's innovative solutions challenge conventional problem-solving approaches to gain rapid tactical advantages over the most aggressive adversaries. In an environment where cyber operations are a matter of national security, Battelle stands ready to help sustain U.S. cyberspace dominance.

2013

Battelle begins work on armored commercial vehicles for the U.S. military.

5_K⁺

Parts

To complete an Armored Vehicle

Armoring Commercial Vehicles for Mission Success

Battelle produces lightweight armored and upgraded vehicles for American troops who require better operational performance and protection in challenging environments. Today, Battelle's vehicles have a reputation for being the toughest in the business–equipped to endure rigorous missions in rough terrain resulting in off-road mobility and long-term durability.

2014

For the first time in history, a paralyzed man regains control of his hand with his own thoughts.

1^st

Movement

With Neurolife^®

Pioneering Neurotechnology

Ian Burkhart, a 23–year–old quadriplegic from Dublin, Ohio, is the first study participant to use Battelle NeuroLife^® technology, an electronic neural bypass for spinal cord injuries that reconnects the brain directly to the muscles, allowing voluntary and functional control of a paralyzed limb. Burkhart, who was paralyzed during a diving accident, participated in the FDA–approved clinical trial at The Ohio State University's Wexner Medical Center.

A tiny chip implanted on the brain picks up electrical signals and transmits them to a computer for processing/decoding–essentially interpreting what the participant is thinking about, bypassing the spinal cord injury and translating those signals into a language that muscles can understand.

2014

Battelle establishes massively parallel sequencing technologies for forensic genomics and biosecurity.

Pioneering The DNA Frontier

Getting more out of DNA Analysis

In 2014, Battelle released the first massively parallel sequencing (MPS) software for DNA analysis. The application helped identify human identity, kinship and phenotype. This technology has the potential to enhance forensic capabilities for law enforcement and prosecutors and help in the defense of those wrongfully accused. Today, Battelle's ThreatSEQ^™ DNA screening web service uses MPS to identify biosecurity threats and characterization of sequences of concern in genomic data.

2015

Battelle develops DroneDefender^® to protect airspace against unmanned aircraft systems.

1^st

Portable Defense

With Dronedefender^®

Protection from Drones

Unmanned aerial systems (UAS) can pose a serious risk to government agencies and officials, but Battelle developed a solution. The DroneDefender^® counter–UAS device couples innovative technology with efficient design for safe, reliable, proven security from airborne threats. Battelle's DroneDefender is the first man–portable, accurate and easy–to–use system, providing critical security protection in a world where commercially available UAS are intruding at government buildings, large gatherings of people and other sensitive sites.

Photo of Military official holding Battelle's DroneDefender

Alternate Photo of Military official holding Battelle's DroneDefender

2016

Battelle is selected by the National Science Foundation to complete construction and begin operations of the National Ecological Observatory Network.

Collecting

30 Years

of Ecological Data

Forecasting the Future

Battelle is proud to manage one of the most ambitious ecological programs of all time: The National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON). The NEON program, funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), is the largest ecological observatory network in the U.S., with field sites spanning the country from Puerto Rico to Alaska and Hawaii. The program will collect ecological data for 30 years from terrestrial and aquatic field sites in 20 North American ecoclimatic domains, creating open access data trove for the ecology community of unprecedented scope and scale for the ecological science community.

Today

Since assuming management of the observatory in 2016, Battelle has successfully transitioned all 81 field sites (across 20 domains) from construction to operations and positioned the program to be a powerful player in the ecology community for decades to come.

NEON is truly a visionary project, one that will allow scientists to take the pulse of our planet and help forecast its future. This decision enables NEON to continue moving forward; the quality of Battelle's technical and management approach will ensure NEON will meet the evolving needs of the research and communities it serves.

James Olds Assistant Director for Biological Sciences
National Science Foundation
April 8, 2016

2018

Battelle and its Triad partners begin management and operations of the Los Alamos National Laboratory.

Managing and Operating 1 of The Largest

Science + Technology

Centers in the World

Solving National Security Challenges through Scientific Excellence

On June 8, 2018, The Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration (DOE/NNSA) awarded the management and operating contract for the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) to Triad National Security, LLC. Triad consists of Battelle, the University of California and Texas A&M University. The NNSA notified Triad on July 5, 2018 that it could proceed with the launch of the official transition process–an important milestone for the initiative.

Los Alamos National Laboratory is one of the largest science and technology institutes in the world. It conducts multidisciplinary research in fields such as national security, space exploration, renewable medicine, nanotechnology and supercomputing.

Next: The Imperative Age Explore

The Foundational Age

A Personal Vision Turned Company Mission

The Industrial Atomic Age

Winning the War With Innovation

The Acceleration Age

Fast–Forwarding Technology for the Future

The Space Age

Securing a Place in Space

The Biotech Age

Improving Lives and the Biological Footprint

The Global Guardian Age

Protecting the Planet

The Imperative Age

Our Focus for Tomorrow

$3.7M*

A Family Legacy

60,000

Breaking Ground

316M

Optimizing Metal for Everyday Use

1832°F*

Forging Flight for the Jet Age

2.5K

Starting a Licensing Legacy

Making Research History

16M

An Armored Fleet

29’s

Active Advancements in Agriculture

1st

Formalizing Fuel Elements

1945:

The Secret Weapon’s Secret Weapon

200

A Place in Time

500K

Powering History

1st

Splitting Atoms for Nuclear Energy

5Billion

A Providential Turn

12

Universally Changing the Retail Game

2.7K

Navigating National Needs

3

Coining History

879K

Moving the People

One

Supporting the Space Race

$19.1*

A Sound Heard Around the World

39%*

Advancing the Promise of Solar

1st

Sailing Through the Solar System

7.8M

Documenting The 3rd Largest Planet

20

Transmitting Light Signals

650

Implementing Biological Defenses

0

Processing Polymers in Space

Determining the Origins of Hazardous Waste

98%*

Destroying Stockpiles

CO2

Mitigating Climate Change

1st

Defending the Nation Against Biological Threats

A 20X

Enhancing the Nation's Cyber Force

5K+

Armoring Commercial Vehicles for Mission Success

1st

Pioneering Neurotechnology

Getting more out of DNA Analysis

1st

^$3.7_M*

316_M

1832^°F*

2.5_K

16_M

29^’s

1^st

500_K

1_st

5_Billion

2.7_K

879_K

^$19.1*

39^%*

1^st

7.8_M

98^%*

CO₂

1^st

A 20_X

5_K⁺

1^st

1^st