Defense Innovation Initiative (DII)

Exploring Ideas to Better Identify the “Art of the Possible” for National Security

The Defense Innovation Initiative (DII) is a Department-wide initiative to pursue innovative ways to sustain and advance the capabilities of the “force of the future.” The U.S. changed the security landscape in the 1970s and 1980s with networked precision strike, stealth and surveillance for conventional forces. Through the DII, the Department will identify a third offset strategy that puts the competitive advantage firmly in the hands of American power projection over the coming decades.

Two key efforts that align with DII are the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) and the Long-Range Research and Development Program Plan.

Defense Innovation Unit (DIU)

Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) accelerates commercial innovation for national defense.

For Companies: Enter a $100B Market

DIU is a fast-moving government entity that provides non-dilutive capital to companies to solve national defense problems. And we do so quickly, usually in under 90 days. Pilot contracts can include hardware, software, or unique services. More importantly, after a successful pilot, the company involved and any DoD entity can easily enter into follow-on contracts, just as fast.

For Government: Solving Your Problems

DIUx purchases commercial innovation to solve national defense problems. And we do so in a fraction of the amount of time that it traditionally takes, usually in under 90 days of first contact with a company. We do this by facilitating pilot contracts — not bound by the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) — between companies and DoD entities. After a successful pilot, any interested DoD entity has sole source justification to procure the piloted solution(s).

Long-Range Research and Development Planning Program (LRRDPP)

The LRRDDP was designed to help the Department better understand and prioritize new or unconventional application of technology in an effort to provide the U.S. with significant military technological advantage into the future. A Request for Information was issued to identify system concepts that will have significant impact in the 2025-2030 timeframe, and to identify the steps the department should be taking today to nurture the technology development required to make those system concepts a reality. A large number of responses were received, and all inputs have been reviewed.

DII RESOURCES

DIU RESOURCES

LRRDPP RESOURCES