National Security Innovation Network
Abstract
The National Security Innovation Network (NSIN) is a program office within the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering and authorized through Section 219 of the FY 2021 NDAA. NSIN reports through the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) to the Undersecretary of Defense for Research and Engineering. NSIN has been chartered with a mission to build networks of innovators that generate new solutions to national security problems. NSIN develops programs that are designed to help other DoD entities from the Military Services, Joint Staff, Combatant Commands, and Defense Agencies and Field Activities solve problems with non-traditional partners from academia and the start-up community. NSIN is organized around three core lines of effort. These lines of effort include: 1) creating new opportunities for National Security Service by building models of service that account for generational and cultural differences between the military, academic, and venture communities and providing flexible pathways to official service within the Department of Defense; 2) solving national security problems by collaborating with partners from the academic and venture communities by engaging new problem-solvers in collision events with DoD customers that generate novel concepts and solutions and building a national network of problem-solving ecosystems that leverage the competitive advantages of regions and commercial innovation hubs for DoD customers; and 3) accelerating the adoption of novel concepts and solutions by facilitating engagement with DoD end users and transition partners to stimulate dual-use venture growth and improving Technology Transfer and Transition (T3) rates for DoD lab technology through dual-use commercialization via early stage ventures. NSIN's physical network is composed of 11 Regional Directors, each of which is located in critical venture innovation hubs throughout the country (Boston, MA; New York City, NY; Washington, DC; Raleigh, NC; Chicago, IL; St. Louis, MO; Austin, TX; Denver, CO; Seattle, WA; San Diego, CA; and San Francisco, CA) and supported by University Program Directors (UPDs) that are embedded at critical universities throughout the country and are co-located with emerging or extant venture ecosystems. At objective stated, NSIN envisions approximately 35 such UPDs throughout the country and in all 50 states. NSIN executes a suite of 12 programs (e.g., Hacking for Defense) and 7 pilot activities (see below) with annual costs of approximately $40.000 million, inclusive of the personnel that support program planning, execution, and assessment. NSIN has been a continuous Congressional interest program that has received funding in FY 2016 ($5.000 million), FY 2017 ($25.000 million), FY 2018 ($25.500 million), FY 2019 ($15.000 million), FY 2020 ($40.000 million), and FY 2021 ($40.000 million). In prior years, NSIN was predominantly funded through Congressional Additions but was included in the President’s Budget submission for FY 2020 ($25.000 million). FY 2022 is the first year that NSIN appears as a funded Program Element throughout the FYDP and its program mission was codified in Section 219 of the FY 2021 NDAA.
Document Details
- Document Type
- R2 Budgetary Justification
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2022
- Source ID
- 0603950D8Z_3_0400_PB_2022
- Change Summary Explanation
- FY 2022 increase supports the National Security Academic Accelerator (NSA2) program, expands H4D efforts, expands the Propel program, and pilots additional program concepts in partnership with the Office of Small Business Programs, ManTech, SBIR office and offices of the Deputy Director of Research and Engineering for Modernization. FY 2021 increase supports the expansion of the Hacking for Defense (H4D) program, expansion of the X-Force Fellowship Program, the inaugural cohort of the Technology and National Security Fellowship (TNSF), National Security Academic Accelerator (NSA2) Pilot activities, and the acquisition and use of commercial platforms that assist with due diligence of NSIN’s early-stage venture partners and counter foreign influence and investment.
- Service Agency Name
- Office of the Secretary Of Defense
Entities
Organizations
- Office of the Secretary of Defense
Related Documents
- Child Project: National Security Innovation Network
- Child Accomplishment: National Security Innovation Network (NSIN)