Innovation Hubs

The Doolittle Institute, an AFRL Innovation Institute, supports the Air Force Research Labs Munitions Directorate by working to license and commercialize AFRL/RW technologies in the private sector through technology transfer, enable rapid technology delivery to the warfighter via technology transition, identify and foster new R&D partnerships through innovation and collaboration, and develop AFRL’s future workforce.

The Doolittle Institute prides itself on its ability to help small businesses compete with industry primes for access to DoD opportunities. In addition to contacting the team at Doolittle Institute, the resources below are valuable sources of information for small businesses interested in seizing available opportunities.

SOFWERX was created under a Partnership Intermediary Agreement between DEFENSEWERX and the United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM). Located in Tampa, FL, SOFWERX has a very dynamic environment designed to create a high rate of return on collision for all participants. Through the use of our growing ecosystem, promotion of divergent thought, and neutral facilitation, our goal is to bring the right minds together to solve challenging problems.

The SOFWERX ecosystem is comprised of Industry, Labs, Academia and Government Stakeholders that care about solving challenging Warfighter problems to protect our freedoms and way of life.

ERDCWERX empowers industry and academia to identify new partnerships for innovation and commercialization with ERDC and invites non-traditional defense contractors to submit, at no cost, solutions to specific projects identified by ERDC. Located in Vicksburg, MS, ERDCWERX (EWX) was created under a Partnership Intermediary Agreement between DEFENSEWERX and the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC).

As a neutral facilitator, ERDCWERX takes innovation to the marketplace and warfighter through technology transition and technology transfer. In support of the tech transition and tech transfer goals of ERDC, we expand internal and external networks to include industry and academia, simplify the process for industry and academia to engage with ERDC, promote and leverage ERDC’s innovation strengths, save time and accelerate the progress of research, IP commercialization, and other initiatives.

The Cyber Fusion Innovation Center (CFIC) is a DEFENSEWERX Innovation Hub in partnership with the U.S. Army Cyber Command via an Other Transaction Authority (OTA) agreement. Established in December 2020, CFIC’s mission is to aid the U.S. Army Cyber Command in defending the Department of Defense Information Network, delivering cyberspace effects, and rapidly developing and deploying cyberspace capabilities.

CFIC werx by aiding ARCYBER to facilitate finding solutions to their most complex and time-sensitive challenges. Bringing together ARCYBER, industry, academia, and other government and non-government entities. Fusing collaboration, training, capabilities, and operations effectively and efficiently.

HSWERX ensures that DHS has the capabilities to secure our nation in the face of natural and human-caused threats as the research, development, test, and evaluation arm of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)

HSWERX leverages a broad network of partners in its mission to deliver effective and innovative insight, methods, and solutions for homeland security challenges. S&T’s Office of Industry Partnerships is partnering with DEFENSEWERX (DWX) to expand S&T’s innovation footprint and support the innovative process to commercialize technologies that benefit the homeland security mission.

NAUTILUS is constantly assessing the landscape in the areas of defense and innovation. Our ecosystem of the latest technologies allows us to scout for the most promising concepts, prototypes, or commercially available technologies that can be leveraged as solutions for the warfighter.

Using research and development agreements, contracts, competitions, public-private partnerships, and other tools, NAUTILUS can address Navy and Marine Corps innovation challenges while helping grow the circle of entrepreneurs and investors interested in working the strategic and technical challenges associated with maintaining U.S. national security.

The LANDWERX innovation hub, based out of the Landus Innovation Connector in Des Moines, is opening new doors to civilian innovation, granting farmers unprecedented access to problem solvers and solutions within the DEFENSEWERX ecosystem.

In addition to helping farmers address day-to-day needs, LANDWERX brings access to robust funding opportunities earmarked to advance rural vitality initiatives, addressing a wide variety of rural and farmer-voiced concerns, industry shortfalls, sustainability and more.

ENERGYWERX strives to discover, engage, and accelerate innovation in support of DOE’s missions to expand the development and deployment of clean energy solutions, heighten energy security, and strengthen national security ecosystems.

The hub leverages proven methodologies and practices to increase cooperative and joint activities between DOE and industry, utilities, localities, and other non-traditional performers and collaborators with a goal of enabling the rapid development, scaling, commercialization, and deployment of energy technologies and solutions.

The FLEETWERX (FWX) Innovation Hub was chartered to develop a coordinated innovation and collaboration program with the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) by creating a cutting-edge environment that brings the best of Government, Industry, National & Federal Laboratories, and Academia together to work on the most difficult science and technology problems, while championing STEAM education and workforce development across all levels of society.

FLEETWERX’s mission is to develop an ecosystem of innovators, all working together to integrate advanced solutions for evolving maritime challenges to ensure the United States naval forces remain incomparable on a global scale.