Frequently Asked Questions

Partnership Intermediary Agreements, otherwise known as “PIAs”, are agreements between the federal government and an intermediary organization, such as state and/or local governmental agencies and nonprofit entities.

The purpose of these agreements is to enhance the effectiveness of technology transfer from federal laboratories and research centers to the private sector, particularly to small businesses and academic institutions.

Key characteristics of a PIA include:

1. Technology Transfer: One of the primary goals of a PIA is to enable the transfer of technology developed in federal labs to the private sector. This is often aimed at encouraging innovation, commercialization, and public use of federally-funded research and development.

2. Support for Small Businesses and Academia: PIAs often focus on aiding small businesses and academic institutions. They provide these entities with better access to federal research and technology, which can be crucial for startups and educational research projects.

3. Collaborative Opportunities: Through a PIA, Defensewerx can help create collaborative opportunities between federal laboratories and external partners. This includes facilitating joint research projects, licensing agreements, and other forms of collaboration.

4. Benefits to Federal Agencies: For federal agencies, PIAs can enhance their ability to achieve mission-related objectives by leveraging the capabilities and resources of external partners.

Overall, PIAs are a tool to facilitate the flow of technology and knowledge between the federal sector and other stakeholders, fostering innovation and economic development.

DEFENSEWERX + Partner = Innovation Hub.

An innovation hub is an organization born from a Partnership Intermediary Agreement between Defensewerx and a Federal Laboratory. The innovation hub’s purpose is to bring together researchers, creators and innovators to nurture ideas into industry-changing products and services.

The mission of a Defensewerx innovation hub is to remove barriers for the non-traditional organizations to aid our partners in new ideas and innovations allowing problems to be solved more quickly and efficiently.

DEFENSEWERX has multiple hubs across the nation and we are rapidly growing.

• Doolittle Institute; established in 2012; Air Force Research Laboratory Munitions Directorate  (AFRL-RW)
• SOFWERX; established in 2015; United States Special Operations Command Headquarters (USSOCOM)
• ERDCWERX; established in 2018 =; United States Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC)
• Cyber Fusion Innovation Center (CFIC); established in 2019; United States Army Cyber Command
• FLEETWERX; established in 2020; Naval Postgraduate School (NPS)
• HSWERX; established in 2021; United States Department of Homeland Security 
• ICWERX; established in 2021; Central Intelligence Agency Labs (CIA Labs)
• Nautilus; established in 2022; Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) Dahlgren Division
• ENERGYWERX; established in 2023; United States Department of Energy (DOE) 

Stay up to date with new hubs by following us on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

As a neutral facilitator, DEFENSEWERX innovation hubs empower innovative solution providers including traditional and non-traditional problem solvers, small businesses, academia, hackers, etc.

Each hub has a specific partner and customer they work with. This allows for specific solutions to be provided based on industry and goal.  

An innovation ecosystem for solving challenges encompasses a collaborative network of entities and processes aimed at fostering innovation to address various hub-specific-related challenges. This ecosystem typically involves a diverse range of participants and components, including:

1. Research Institutions and Universities: These provide foundational research and development (R&D) capabilities, often focusing on cutting-edge technologies and theoretical advancements.

2. Defense Contractors and Industry Partners: Companies in the defense sector contribute practical applications of technology and can rapidly scale solutions. They bring expertise in areas such as weapons systems, cybersecurity, and logistics.

3. Government Agencies and Departments: Besides the DoD, other government entities may be involved, including those focused on science, technology, and intelligence. These agencies often provide funding, strategic direction, and regulatory frameworks.

4. Startup Companies and Entrepreneurs: They bring innovative approaches and agility in developing new technologies. Startups are often key drivers in introducing disruptive technologies.

5. Venture Capital and Funding Organizations: These entities provide necessary financial support for early-stage and high-risk projects that might not receive traditional funding.

6. Incubators and Accelerators: These organizations support startups and innovators in developing their ideas into viable products or services through mentorship, resources, and networking opportunities.

7. Regulatory Bodies and Policy Makers: They play a crucial role in creating a conducive environment for innovation through policy-making, regulation, and incentivization.

8. Military Personnel and End-Users: Involvement of the actual users of the technology (e.g., soldiers, defense personnel) is crucial for feedback and ensuring that the innovations meet actual field requirements.

Working with Defensewerx offers several benefits, particularly for fostering cooperation between government entities and non-federal entities such as academic institutions, small businesses, and non-profit organizations. The key benefits include:

1. Facilitated Collaboration: Defensewerx Innovation Hubs make it easier for government agencies and non-federal entities to collaborate on research and development projects. This streamlined process helps in combining the strengths and resources of both parties effectively.

2. Access to Expertise: Non-federal entities can access specialized expertise and facilities within the government that might otherwise be difficult or costly to access. Conversely, government entities can tap into the innovative capabilities and unique perspectives of private sector and academic institutions.

3. Technology Transfer: These agreements facilitate the transfer of technology between the government and private sector. This can accelerate the development of new technologies and their subsequent commercialization.

4. Economic Development: By supporting small businesses and startups, the Defensewerx innovation ecosystem contributes to economic development. They can help these entities to grow by providing access to resources, expertise, and networks that they might not have otherwise.

5. Educational Opportunities: Academic institutions involved in the innovation ecosystem can provide their students and faculty with practical, real-world experience in government projects, enhancing educational and research opportunities.

6. Cost-Effectiveness:  As a non-profit organization, Defensewerx can be more cost-effective compared to traditional contracts or grants. Allowing for more flexible and efficient use of resources, reducing administrative overheads.

7. Risk Mitigation: Sharing of resources and expertise can also lead to better risk management in projects, as both parties bring their own perspectives and solutions to potential problems.

8. Speed to Market: For technology-oriented projects, the collaboration can lead to faster development and quicker time to market, benefiting both the government and the private sector.

9. Networking and Strategic Alliances: These agreements can help in building long-term relationships and networks that are beneficial for all parties involved, leading to future collaborations and partnerships.

10. Regulatory Compliance: The Defensewerx innovation hubs can also assist small businesses and other entities in navigating government regulations and processes, making it easier for them to collaborate with government agencies.

Overall, working with Defensewerx can create a win-win situation, fostering innovation and development while providing mutual benefits to both government  and non-government partners.

During the initial collaboration events, security clearance is not needed. Collaboration events are public, so it is important to only present projects you are willing to share with other innovators and problem solvers.

In short, No, a security clearance is not needed to work with DEFENSEWERX and our partners. DEFENSEWERX innovation hubs are traditionally unclassified platforms to encourage open collaboration.

Technology transfer refers to the process of sharing or disseminating technology, knowledge, skills, manufacturing methods, samples of manufacturing, and facilities among governments, universities, and other institutions to ensure that scientific and technological developments are accessible to a wider range of users who can then further develop and exploit the technology into new products, processes, applications, materials, or services. This process is vital for the progress of new technologies and innovations.

Technology Transfer offers several benefits, to include: 

1. Knowledge Transfer: Sharing of skills, know-how, and expertise between organizations or within an organization.

2. Commercialization: Turning scientific and technological advances into marketable products or services.

3. Collaborations and Partnerships: Often, technology transfer involves collaborative research agreements or partnerships between universities, research institutions, and businesses.

4. Licensing: Intellectual property rights (like patents, trademarks) are often transferred through licensing agreements, allowing a party other than the inventor to commercialize the technology.

5. Government and Policy Role: Governments often facilitate technology transfer through policies, funding, and creating environments conducive to research and innovation.

Technology transfer plays a crucial role in both global technological advancement and in addressing local or regional problems through tailored technologies. The ultimate goal of technology transfer is to translate scientific and technological advances into societal and economic benefits.

A Collaboration Event is a gathering or initiative where different stakeholders in the innovation process come together to share ideas, resources, and expertise. These stakeholders can include businesses, entrepreneurs, researchers, investors, government representatives, and others involved in the creation, development, and implementation of innovative technologies or solutions. 

Key aspects of a Collaboration Event in the innovation ecosystem include:

1. Networking and Partnerships: These events offer a platform for participants to network, forming partnerships that can lead to collaborative projects or ventures.

2. Knowledge Sharing and Learning: They often feature workshops, seminars, or presentations where experts share insights, trends, and research findings in various fields of innovation.

3. Problem-Solving and Ideation: Collaboration Events can focus on brainstorming and ideation sessions, where participants work together to tackle specific challenges or develop new ideas.

4. Resource and Skill Sharing: These events can facilitate the sharing of resources and skills between different entities, such as startups gaining access to tools or expertise from established companies or research institutions.

5. Market and Trend Exploration: They provide an opportunity for participants to explore and discuss market trends, consumer needs, and emerging technologies, which can inform their innovation strategies.

6. Showcasing Innovations: Often, such events include showcases or competitions where new technologies, products, or services are presented to an audience that might include potential investors or customers.

Collaboration Events in the innovation ecosystem are crucial for fostering a culture of innovation, encouraging cross-sector engagement, and accelerating the development and adoption of new solutions.

An Assessment Event refers to an event in the innovation process where various aspects of an innovation, such as a new product, service, or business model, are evaluated. This evaluation can be in terms of feasibility, viability, and desirability from both the technical and market perspectives. Here’s a breakdown of what it generally involves:

1. Evaluation of Innovation: Assessing the novelty, technological feasibility, and potential impact of the innovation. This could involve technical experts scrutinizing the technology or business model for its uniqueness, practicality, and potential for disruption or improvement in a given field.

2. Market Analysis: Examining the market demand, competition, and customer needs. This is crucial to understand whether the innovation addresses a real market gap or customer problem, and how it stacks up against existing solutions.

3. Financial Assessment: Evaluating the economic viability of the innovation. This involves looking at the costs of development and implementation, potential revenue streams, and overall return on investment.

4. Risk Assessment: Identifying and analyzing potential risks associated with the innovation. This includes technological risks, market risks, financial risks, and regulatory risks.

5. Stakeholder Feedback: Involving key stakeholders, such as potential customers, investors, or industry experts, to provide feedback on the innovation. Their insights can be invaluable in refining the innovation and its go-to-market strategy.

6. Regulatory Compliance: Checking if the innovation complies with existing laws and regulations, which is particularly important in highly regulated industries like healthcare or finance.

7. Sustainability Evaluation: Assessing the environmental and social impact of the innovation, which is increasingly important in today’s context.

These assessment events can occur at various stages of the innovation process – from initial concept to pre-market launch – and are crucial for guiding decision-making, securing funding, and refining the innovation for successful market entry. 

• You will be notified of any challenges brought to the hub.
• You may be asked to provide a capability sheet upon joining an ecosystem.

All events are listed on our Innovation Hub’s individual websites, as well as shared across their social media platforms.
We have a central page for Events and Opportunities listed for all of our innovation hubs on our website, click HERE.  

By joining the ecosystem of any hub, you will receive email communications which provide up-to-date information on how to participate in events and opportunities.

You can Unsubscribe from email communications at any time. 

No, our innovation hubs have no input in which problem-solver the partner chooses for the solution. DEFENSEWERX and our hubs link innovators with our partners and remain non-bias.

You can send us an email at info@defensewerx.org with your specific question.

We monitor this account daily and will respond as quickly as we are able.