Partnership Intermediary Agreements, otherwise known by the acronym “PIAs”, are agreements between the government and an intermediary organization, such as state and/or local governmental agencies and nonprofit entities. They are operated by or on behalf of a state or local government to perform partnership intermediary services that increase the likelihood of success in the conduct of cooperative or joint activities with small business firms and educational institutions that need technology-related assistance from a federal laboratory.

More specifically, PIAs can function at the Department of Defense (DoD) level, and they assist DoD laboratories and agencies with technology transfer and transition. PIA focus areas range from identifying the commercialization scope for DoD technologies to finding federal opportunities for technology innovation (from small businesses and academia) and deploying Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) outreach efforts to promote STEM-related careers.

There are also U.S. Air Force regional PIAs located throughout the United States that work with specific Air Force laboratories and agencies to support the successful application of science and technology proposals from industry and academia to the Small Business Innovation Research and Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR) program- as well as promote the commercialization of Air Force technologies and identify and assist small businesses with technology research that benefits the warfighter.