Collaboratorium: A Multi-Stakeholder Approach to Advancing Innovative Defense Acquisition

Abstract

The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) faces significant challenges in effectively transitioning innovative technologies from research and development to operational use, a phenomenon known as the “valley of death.” This issue has critical implications for national security, as delays in technology acquisition hinder the United States’ ability to keep pace with global competitors. While addressing these challenges requires a multifaceted approach of updating policies, cultures, and ecosystems, one area worth exploring is how the defense innovation ecosystem engages less-traditional stakeholders, such as civil society, academia, independent researchers, and small businesses. Fostering knowledge sharing and collaboration across these diverse communities allows the DoD to tap into a broader range of perspectives and technical expertise, leading to more effective technology discovery and development. This paper first analyzes the policy, process, personnel, and budgeting hurdles hindering defense technology innovation and then examines current successes and future opportunities for less-traditional stakeholder engagement in the defense innovation landscape. Building on lessons learned from an initiative called “Technology Transfer Days” (TTDs), the paper proposes a framework for a technology matchmaking collaboratorium, the Defense Innovation Discovery and Collaboratorium Platform (DID Collaboratorium), which can provide comprehensive resources for a whole-of-community engagement strategy around defense technology development and acquisition needs.