Broadly, the OSC will do two things as part of its partnered capital strategy for critical technologies. First, it will identify and prioritize promising critical technology areas for the Department of Defense. Second, it will fund investments in those critical technology areas, including supply chain technologies not always supported through direct procurement. To accomplish this, the OSC will partner with private capital providers and other federal agencies to employ investment vehicles that have proven successful in other United States government contexts.

As the OSC begins its work, it will work with the private sector to develop new partnership models that rely on the existing authorities of the Department of Defense and its federal partners. Specifically, the OSC aims to offer “patient capital” to investors and companies through a variety of financial tools. These financial tools are new to the Department and will be complementary to ongoing technology innovation efforts. The objective is to help companies access the capital they need to grow from prototypes to scaled production. The work of the OSC is consistent with the Department of Defense’s legacy of supporting the technological innovation that has led to American economic prosperity and strong defense capabilities.