OUSD R&E Seeks Industry Collaboration to Close Critical Capability Gaps

June 24, 2024 The Department of Defense released its Blanket Other Transaction Announcement (BOTA) announcing the opportunity for businesses to partner with DoD for research and development in the physical, engineering, and life sciences June 12. The DoD uses other transaction authorities (OTAs) to fund critical requirements for prototypes to spur innovation and attract non-traditional…

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Hicks Establishes SBIR/STTR Due Diligence Policy and Implementation Guidance

May 24, 2024 Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks signed a memorandum to establish policy and provide implementation guidance for the Defense Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Due Diligence Program May 13. In accordance with the SBIR and STTR Extension Act of 2022, the goal of the Due Diligence…

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After 50 Years of Service, A DoD Engineer Bids Goodbye

April 9, 2024 In a heartfelt farewell to 50 years of unwavering service, Dr. Steven G. Wax, the acting lead for science and technology within the Office of the Under Secretary of Research and Engineering, has bid goodbye to his tenure, leaving behind an indelible mark on the Defense Department’s R&D enterprise. Wax’s journey, spanning…

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DOD’s Hypersonic Career Opportunities, Partnerships with Academia, Continue to Grow

January 26, 2024 The Department of Defense’s strong partnerships with the academic community expand opportunities to co-research and- develop efforts within the defense innovation ecosystem, including for hypersonics, one of the 14 critical technology areas for the DoD. DOD Joint Hypersonics Transition Office director, Mark Glenn, recently met with the University of Alabama College of…

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DSB, Dutch Delegation Discuss Academic Research Security

December 21, 2023 The Defense Science Board hosted a visiting Dutch delegation to discuss its findings and recommendations by the DSB Task Force on “Balancing Openness and Security Across the DOD Academic Research Enterprise,” on December 13 in Arlington, Virginia. Chaired by HON Shirley Ann Jackson- the former Chair of the President’s Intelligence Advisory Board…

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R&E Industry Day: Catalyzing Biomanufacturing Innovation

November 8, 2023 The Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering hosted a virtual biomanufacturing industry day on October 18 to engage with industry partners on biomanufacturing innovation. Biomanufacturing industry days are a vital step toward implementation of the DoD Biomanufacturing Strategy published last March. The strategy consists of three principles:…

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DoD One Step Closer to Zero-Trust Systems for Battlefield Communications

October 20, 2023 The Department of Defense recently announced the winners of the 2023 5G Challenge, which took place in Louisville, Colorado and awarded $7 million in prizes. This year’s event focused on integrating open radio access network (Open RAN) components from multiple vendors to build an inter-connected system for universal use. Open RAN is…

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DoD’s Manufacturing Innovation Institutes: Changing Lives and Enabling Warfighting Capabilities

October 12, 2023 Dr. Steven Wax, performing the duties of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Science and Technology, spent several days in New England visiting two of the Department of Defense’s nine Manufacturing Innovation Institutes. The recent visit included both the Advanced Regenerative Manufacturing Institute/BioFabUSA and Advanced Functional Fabrics of America. MIIs were created…

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