National Security Technology Accelerator Program

Abstract

The MD5 National Security Technology Accelerator (MD5) is a program office within the Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (OUSD(R&E)) that seeks to develop deep partnerships between the Department of Defense (DoD) and non-traditional thought partners, including colleges and universities, the entrepreneurial community and disruptive innovators within DoD itself. The speed and reactivity of the modern technology-threat environment challenge the traditional top-down model of defense problem-solving and capability development. Mitigating this deficiency requires developing internal workforce and organizational competencies and associated resources related to problem framing, knowledge and resource sharing, and non-traditional partnerships. Consistent with guidance from the Secretary of Defense and new Defense Innovation Initiative (DII), MD5 is a portfolio of innovation programs that (1) accelerates capability development leveraging non-traditional collaborators and “bottom-up” approaches, (2) augments the defense industry through the creation of startup businesses, and (3) enhances the DOD workforce through critical innovation skills development. This program seeks to maintain the long-term competitive advantage for the US military over adversaries by tapping into high-potential uniformed and civilian employees of the DoD (i.e. intrapreneurs) and increasing their interactions with high-speed innovators and entrepreneurs outside of the DoD. This is accomplished by providing training and tools to these DoD intrapreneurs that empower them to find new ways to identify, frame, and solve problems as well as opening avenues to broadly implement the solutions they create. Additionally, the programs executed create opportunities for external innovators and entrepreneurs to be exposed to DoD problems and allow them to demonstrate possible solutions they can bring to bear on problems. MD5/NSTA carries out its mission via three portfolios of effort: Education, Collaboration, and Acceleration. MD5 education and training programs develop DOD and industry personnel educated to continuously test and improve legacy processes and systems. MD5 collaboration programs like crowdsourcing develop human-centered networks that address DOD capability needs in an agile, cost-effective manner. MD5 acceleration programs develop ventures inside and outside of DOD that develop, commercialize, or apply technology relevant to warfighter problem sets. MD5 is a Congressional interest program that has received funding in FY 2016 ($5M), FY 2017 ($25M), FY 2018 ($25.5M), and FY 2019 ($15M).

Document Details

• Document Type: Project
• Publication Date: Oct 01, 2021
• Source ID: 607_0603680D8Z_3_0400_PB_2021

Tags

Readers

• Defense Technology Research and Development.