National Security Innovation Network
Abstract
This program supports the Departments initiatives to Build a Sustainable and Long-Term Advantage, and Build a Resilient Joint Force and Defense Ecosystem. The National Security Innovation Network (NSIN) is a program office within the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (USRE) and authorized through Section 219 of the National Defense Authorization Act for FY 2021. 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 Department of Defense (DoD) entities from the Military Services, Joint Staff, Combatant Commands, 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, engaging a greater cross-section of the nation’s talent in national security, 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. The NSIN's physical network is composed of 11 Regional Directors, each of which is located in critical venture innovation hubs throughout the country to include: Boston, MA; New York City, NY; Washington, DC; Orlando, FL; Chicago, IL; St. Louis, MO; Austin, TX; Denver, CO; Seattle, WA; San Diego, CA; and San Francisco, CA. They are supported by University Program Directors (UPDs) that are embedded at critical universities throughout the country and Spoke Directors (SDs) who focus on critical, smaller ecosystems within a larger Region. At the objective state, NSIN envisions approximately 55 such UPDs/SDs throughout the country and in all 50 states. The NSIN executes a suite of 14 programs (e.g., Hacking for Defense, X-Force, Foundry) and multiple pilot activities (see below) with annual costs of approximately $40.000 million, inclusive of the personnel that support program planning, execution, and assessment. The 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, 2023
- Source ID
- 0603950D8Z_3_0400_PB_2023
- Change Summary Explanation
- FY 2022 funding supports the Emerge (rebranded from 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. In FY 2022 Appropriation includes a $15 million program increase. FY 2023 funding increase reflects the fact that the FY 2022 President’s Budget request did not include out-year funding.
- 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)