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Great news we have movement - time to accelerate the build allied model. The Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) is working quickly to determine how and where to spend the nearly $1 billion US Congress provided in March through the fiscal 2024 appropriations act. The $983 million allocation, nearly $800 more than what DIU received last year, will support the growing organization’s mission to help the United States Department of Defense quickly foster and field commercial capabilities in large numbers, according to DIU director Doug Beck. As reported, "due to prolonged budget deliberations in Congress that delayed the release of appropriations, DIU’s funding came more than five months into the fiscal year, presenting Beck’s team with the challenge of using that money in a short period of time". Beck didn’t discuss the specific initiatives DIU will funnel the funding toward — or what additional staff he might need to support these efforts — but said it will fall in four primary buckets: - accelerating existing programs, - launching new ones, - supporting projects housed within other DoD #innovation organizations, and - addressing some of the challenges commercial companies face as they try to work with the DoD. A pretty broad agenda. Hopefully allies and partner nations, particularly in the #indopacific, will not be forgotten as these programs are progressed in a multidomain environment. One that is becoming increasingly contested. #defence #defense U.S. Indo-Pacific Command Armatus.ai Bernice Glenn Kissinger US Army US Navy United States Air Force U.S. Space Command Defence Australia Pacific International Center For High Technology Research - PICHTR Japan - The Government of Japan Japan Ministry of Defense David Anderson #innovation #china #taiwan #technology Jerry McGinn, Ph.D. Tomoki Matsuo Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments (CSBA) Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) https://lnkd.in/g6FWV3YT

William LaPlante and Heidi Shyu outline the Defense Department's efforts to drive innovation and to quickly field emerging and critical technologies, claiming that "there has never been a better time to find entry to and do business with the department." "We have invested in new research and production activities like the Accelerate the Procurement and Fielding of Innovative Technologies program, and new mechanisms for partnerships through our Manufacturing Innovation Institutes." "We have made use of programs like Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment, Manufacturing Technology and Defense Production Act Title III to shore up the defense industrial base so it can deliver needed systems." "We have also strengthened our engagements with the commercial sector through the work of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency and the Defense Innovation Unit, in addition to initiatives like the Office of Strategic Capital and our network of APEX accelerators." #defenseinnovation #defensetech #defenseindustry https://lnkd.in/ei9YcKuF  

Do we need a European DARPA to cope with technological challenges in Europe?: The US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is often held as a model for driving technology advances. For decades, it has contributed to military and economic dominance by bridging the gap between military and civilian applications. European policymakers frequently reference DARPA in discussions, as outlined in the 2024 Draghi Report, but an EU equivalent has yet to materialise. To create such an agency, the governance and management of European innovation programmes would need drastic changes. DARPA supports disruptive innovation Founded in 1958, DARPA operates under the US Department of Defense (DoD) with a straightforward mission: to fund high-risk technological… This story continues at The Next Web #technews #startupnews #eurostartups

EX2 HAS NEW STORIES: The three EX2 lead news stories today (www.ex2.com.au) are: the three AUKUS partners will accelerate the testing of hypersonic missiles – the RAAF has already said it will arm its Super Hornets with the Hypersonic Attack Cruise Missile (HACM); ASCA has signed 21 contracts with Australian quantum and counter disinformation technology companies; and the Pentagon has selected more autonomous ADA2 systems for accelerated fielding under its Replicator initiative. EX2 HEADLINES - www.ex2.com.au In Other News: ·      QinetiQ opens QLabs at Mawson Lakes, SA ·      USAF CCA contenders complete the equivalent of a CDR ·      Tripartite agreement between ASA, ASC and BAE Systems enables SSN-AUKUS submarine construction Read these stories and more at EX2. Innovation is all about new technologies and techniques that solve wicked problems; it’s about the R&D and innovation processes that develop these new technologies and techniques; it’s about the linkages, collaborations and inspiration that make them possible. It’s called thinking outside the square That’s what EX2 is all about.

Skylark was honored to be listed in the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace overview on #INDUS-X. "The growth of the Indian defense start-up ecosystem and micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSME) also offer the United States’s venture capital industry an emerging set of opportunities. Many Indian start-ups have sought, and successfully secured, participation from Silicon Valley. For example, U.S.-based Artiman Ventures’ investment in Tonbo, Accel and @IDG Partners in Axio Biosolutions, Intel Capital’s in Saankhya Labs, and WRVI capital’s in ideaForge. This is a growing trend, with an increasing number of Silicon Valley venture funds looking toward promising start-ups in India. Indian defense and aerospace start-ups are also, in turn, exploring the U.S. market— 3rdiTech Inc., NewSpace Research and Technologies, Astrome, Skylark Labs, and QNu Labs, to name a few." Learn more about the initiative here and stay tuned for more information on Skylark’s involvement. https://lnkd.in/e6RttCRi

Scaling is the word here! Ukrainians have ingeniously adapted and adopted everything in their possession to achieve goals within demanding surrounding. As was written in detail in a West Point publication "What Does European Union Advising of Ukrainian Troops Mean For The Bloc's Security Policies. An Inside Look At The Training Mission", Ukrainians oftentimes taught the trainers, not vice versa, the realities of War, and their ways to address the pressing needs, both in tactics and means. Both these - experience and innovations must be scaled, find their way into textbooks in Military Schools everywhere. On a side note... "We always prepare for the previous war" was one of the banes of the military education. But, again from this publication, many a trainer found their way to the libraries to dust off the textbooks on WW1 tactics. Yes, really. So, I guess, it is now "we must prepare to use the most modern innovations and inventions and weapons to fight the yesteryear war".

#defenseindustry "In recent years, the government has taken significant strides toward the indigenous manufacturing of defense equipment, fostering a robust ecosystem for R&D in defense and space industries. This push will create base for tech hub that not only strengthens national capabilities but also offers immense benefits to the entire Global South. By prioritizing self-reliance and innovation, nation may positioning itself as a leader, paving the way for a dynamic, globally competitive industrial ecosystem."

Defence's innovation, science, and technology strategy, "Accelerating Asymmetric Advantage - Delivering More, Together", emphasises the need for the defence industrial base to contribute to the development of advanced and future-ready technology. Chief Defence Scientist Tanya Monro AC has highlighted the importance of delivering credible and potent solutions. Industry faces the crucial question of how to adapt its thinking, processes, and manufacturing to meet this demand. It is imperative to revamp the entire acquisition process and industrial approach to incorporate modern manufacturing techniques at the required scale and production rate. Australia must transition from solely investing in innovative ideas, to scaling-up production efficiently. Thanks to the Australian Strategic Policy Institute for featuring these insights in The Strategist. For further details, you can explore the full article at: https://lnkd.in/gDdGgTXu #letsgo #teamaustralia

Seven Capitals is excited to be featured in the article Bojan Stojkovski, Editor-in-chief at IT Logs, ran on the tech resilience of Ukraine in wartime. As Brent Christiaens underlined for our team, "The kind of innovation coming out of Ukraine is not just about survival but about triggering long-lasting technological shifts that can change the face of both defense and civilian industries." It is precisely that vision which guides our investment approach here at Seven Capital - to support pioneering dual-use technologies with strategic weight while driving economic growth. Read the full article for more insights: https://lnkd.in/dg8SYW4f

Key Takeaways: 1. Shift from State-Run to Commercial Innovation: Ukraine transitioned from a Soviet-style, state-controlled military R&D system to a commercial-driven approach. Private companies and startups now lead military innovation, proving more efficient than state-owned enterprises. 2. Streamlined Acquisition & Deployment Processes: Regulatory changes have expedited procurement cycles from years to months or weeks, especially for unmanned systems. 3. Battlefield-Driven Requirements: Unlike traditional top-down military planning, Ukraine now tailors its acquisitions based on real-time frontline needs.