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DIU strengthens our national security by accelerating the adoption of leading commercial technology throughout the military and growing the national security innovation base. We award scalable contracts to companies offering solutions to national security challenges across a variety of technology areas.

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We are building a more secure world.

Who We Are / Our Mission

Defense Innovation Unit (DIU)

  • Accelerate DoD adoption of commercial technology

  • Transform military capacity and capabilities

  • Strengthen the national security innovation base

The Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) strengthens national security by accelerating the adoption of commercial technology throughout the military and bolstering our allied and national security innovation bases. DIU partners with organizations across the Department of Defense (DoD)to rapidly prototype and field dual-use capabilities that solve operational challenges at speed and scale. DIU is strategically embedded across the country, with team members distributed in the Northwest, Pacific, Southwest, Rocky Mountain, Midwest, Southeast, National Capital, and Northeast regions.

DIU is the only DoD organization focused exclusively on fielding and scaling commercial technology across the U.S. military at commercial speeds. Our expert team, working in seven critical technology sectors, engages directly within the venture capital and commercial technology innovation ecosystem, many of which are working with the DoD for the first time. Our streamlined process delivers prototypes to our DoD partners, along with scalable revenue opportunities for our commercial vendors, within 12 to 24 months. 

Upon completion, successful prototypes may transition to follow-on production-Other Transaction agreements or Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR)-based contracts.

Transparency

Every year, we produce an annual report to provide public insight into what we have done and where we are going. These reports offer a snapshot of how we are performing against our mission, project highlights and updates, organizational evolution, and leadership’s goals and expectations for the coming calendar year. Browse our reports to learn more about the value we create and how you might work with us in the future.

*Note: In prior annual reports, we based our metrics and performance on calendar year data. Starting in FY 2021, DIU will present metrics and performance on a fiscal year basis. This shift will enable us to better align with DoD and Congressional funding cycles.

Areas We Focus On

Artificial Intelligence
Autonomy
Cyber and Telecom
Emerging Technology
Energy
Human Systems
Space

Artificial Intelligence

Applying artificial intelligence and machine learning to accelerate critical decision making and operational impact

More On Artificial Intelligence

Autonomy

Accelerating the adoption and scaling of trusted commercial autonomy and improving our ability to counter adversarial systems

More On Autonomy

Cyber and Telecom

Securing and protecting the DoD's computer networks, warfighting systems, critical infrastructure and information from attacks to enable communications and enhance situational awareness

More On Cyber and Telecom

Emerging Technology

Advancing initiatives derived from multi-disciplinary, deep-tech offerings from the commercial and non-traditional ecosystems that do not have a clear, well established pathway within the Department of Defense.

More On Emerging Technology

Energy

Leveraging advancements in the commercial sector to strengthen resilience on military installations and enhance operational energy capabilities.

More On Energy

Human Systems

Optimizing the human system and its enabling platforms through enhanced equipment, innovative training, and novel health applications

More On Human Systems

Space

Developing on-demand access to space, persistent satellite capabilities, and broadband space data transfer

More On Space

Thought Leadership & Reform

Technological innovation is central to our future economic prosperity and national security. DIU seeks to provide examples of how government, businesses, and academia can work together more effectively to maintain the nation’s  competitiveness today - and lay the foundation for future advances. The short papers and resources featured below highlight  DIU’s broader strategic work and lessons we've learned along the way.

ICAP logo

Immersive Commercial Acquisition Program (ICAP)

A competitive program for acquisition professionals who are willing and excited to be the bridge between the Department of Defense and the commercial tech world.

Our Offices

DIU has moved to a regional approach based out of these five satellite offices to better connect with the labs, bases, accelerators, and investors where we may not have a presence. Email info@diu.mil for more information.

DIU Organizations

DIU brings innovation missions together to strengthen the national security innovation base. In addition to our original mission, Pentagon leadership in 2019 directed DIU to assume oversight of NSIN and NSIC, which operate as two distinct DoD organizations with complementary innovation missions.

Do you have a solution to a national security challenge?

We currently have 1 Open Solicitations

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