Defense Innovation Unit (DIU)
Abstract
Defense Innovation Unit Experimental (DIUx) was established in April 2015 and DIUx 2.0 in May 2016. DIU mission is to accelerate innovation in the commercially-focused technology sector to the warfighter. The 2018 National Defense Strategy asserts that we have returned to an era of inter-state strategic competition with Russia and China, heightening the sense of urgency with which the nation, and DoD in particular, must reform our acquisition policies and approach to sustaining military-technical superiority. Adversaries are challenging the U.S. across several dimensions. Most importantly, adversaries are at par or ahead of the U.S. in critical technology areas. Consistent with the FY 2020 OMB/OSTP research and development budget priorities, this new era of competition requires technological superiority to ensure ability to project power, maintain international norms and rule of law, and to serve as a credible deterrence. Notably, the critical technologies that forge military-technical superiority are increasingly dual-use and rapidly developed by the commercial sector. The DIU program will find and provide access to leading-edge technology companies on behalf of DoD organizations. Additionally, DIU will execute projects to leverage commercial sector technology analogous to military application thereby increasing dual-use technology agility for the DoD.
Document Details
- Document Type
- R2 Budgetary Justification
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2020
- Source ID
- 0603342D8Z_3_0400_PB_2020
- Change Summary Explanation
- Initially, DIUx was managed by the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics (OUSD(AT&L)) when it was established in July 2015. In May 2016, DIUx was placed under the operational control of the Secretary of Defense and administratively managed by Washington Headquarters Services (WHS) with functional realignment of the resources across the FYDP to Washington Headquarters Services (WHS) beginning in FY 2018. In July 2018, DIUx was realigned from WHS to the Under Secretary of Defense, Research and Engineering (USD(R&E)). In August 2018, DIUx was re-designated the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU). Effective FY 2020, DIU will transfer from WHS PE 0603342D8W to OSD PE 0603342D8Z with a functional realignment of resources across the FYDP to OUSD(R&E). In FY 2018 and FY 2019, this program had $23.498 million and $29.198 million, respectively, in PE 0603342D8W. The FY 2020 increase of $0.200 thousand will result in a minor re-balance of investments across the technology focus areas of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, Autonomy, Human Systems, Cyber, Space, Advanced Technology Material and Manufacturing, and Power and Energy.
- Service Agency Name
- Office of the Secretary Of Defense
Entities
Organizations
- Office of the Secretary of Defense
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