Optimizing How We Innovate with Our Allies and Partners

The United States' global network of alliances and partnerships is one of its greatest strengths. Our NATO allies, major non-NATO allies, and other strategic partners are key components of global stability. Revisionist states are threatening decades of global stability, munitions stockpiles are depleting in the wake of corroded defense industrial capability, and adversaries threaten to surpass us in key technological fields. To combat these threats, it is essential that we optimize the ways in which we innovate with allies and partners. Therefore, the Under Secretary of Defense for Research & Engineering tasked the Defense Innovation Board (“the Board”) to conduct a study on optimizing the way we innovate with our allies and partners, examining current challenges facing the way we innovate with allies and partners including tackling supply chain issues, understanding allies and partners’ technological innovation comparative advantages, examining threats to sustainable and enduring interoperable partnerships, and exploring opportunities to further deepen collaboration and partnership within the security innovation ecosystem.

Terms of Reference

A study update will be provided at the upcoming Spring Public Meeting.

Aligning Incentives to Drive Faster Tech Adoption

The 2022 National Defense Strategy (NDS) underscores that the Department must act as a swift adopter of both leading edge and commercial technologies, while continuing to incubate innovative ideas and empowering its innovation talent. Creating an environment that promotes the rapid development, adoption, and fielding of innovative technologies often requires that individuals embrace a growth mindset, understand, and take prudent risks, are comfortable with failure and take action to deliver at scale and at the speed of need. Therefore, the Under Secretary for Research & Engineering tasked the Defense Innovation Board (“the Board”) to deliver a study on how the Department should align incentives in order to drive faster technological adoption. 

Terms of Reference

A study update will be provided at the upcoming Spring Public Meeting.