Defense Innovation Unit’s New Portfolio to Strengthen Connections Between Pentagon and Private Sector in Emerging Technologies

The Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) is set to launch a new portfolio that aims to strengthen the connection between the Pentagon’s science and technology community and private sector firms working on cutting-edge capabilities in areas such as quantum sensing, nanotechnology, and microelectronics.

Lt. Col. Nicholas Estep, director of the emerging technology portfolio at DIU, highlighted the organization’s goal to expand its work beyond one-off projects and collaborate with organizations like the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and the service laboratories to leverage commercial systems more effectively.

Established in 2015, DIU was created to bridge the gap between Silicon Valley companies and the Department of Defense (DOD), recognizing that much of the critical technology needed for national security is found in the commercial sector. The department’s science and technology strategy emphasizes the importance of proactive engagement with the commercial sector to address complex security challenges.

The emerging technology portfolio at DIU will focus on exploring technologies and capabilities that may not have been traditionally viewed as useful for the DOD. Estep’s team will work on prototyping efforts in areas such as advanced materials, propulsion, nanotechnology, and photonics, with a current focus on projects within the hypersonics portfolio and the Transition of Quantum Sensors (TQS) initiative.

TQS aims to demonstrate the use of quantum sensors for alternate positioning, navigation, and timing, addressing concerns about GPS jamming and signal degradation. DIU seeks to improve the performance and precision of these sensors in a military context through prototyping in an operational environment.

Collaborating with multiple DOD program offices, operational crews, and test and evaluation offices, the emerging technology team at DIU is gearing up for a busy summer as they work towards advancing critical technologies for national defense. With a strong focus on alignment among stakeholders, the team is optimistic about the impact they can make in the coming months.