Existing and Emerging Partnership Mechanisms Ryan Helbach Chief Intrapreneur Air Force Research Laboratory Distribution A: Approved for public release: distribution unlimited
Predicting the Future The flying machine which will really fly might be evolved by the combined and continuous efforts of mathematicians and mechanicians in from one million to ten million years -- The New York Times, 9 October 1903 We started assembly today -- Orville Wright s Diary, 9 October 1903
Evolution of R&D
Future R&D Ecosystem
DIUx and In-Q-Tel Defense Innovation Unit Experimental (DIUx) was started in 2015 by SecDef Carter Outposts in Silicon Valley, Boston, DC, and Austin Serves as bridge between military and cutting edge tech companies Continuously iterate on how best to identify, contract, and prototype novel innovations through nontraditional sources In-Q-Tel accelerates the development and delivery of cutting-edge technologies to U.S. government agencies that keep our nation safe Bridges gap between national security agencies technology, rapidly changing innovations of startup world, and venture community that funds startups
Rapid and Strategic Capability Offices RCO Rapid development and fielding of combat support and weapon systems Conducts projects on accelerated timelines Versions in Navy, Army and AF SCO Turn existing weapons systems into new warfighting concepts
MD5 MD5 is accelerating dissemination of innovation knowledge and methods throughout DoD workforce. Building new communities of innovators Help generate and increase number and viability of dual-use ventures that serve needs of warfighters Focus on DoD, venture community and academia while exposing those outside the defense establishment to real-world, warfighter needs Education, Collaboration and Acceleration programs to help Military Services and DoD customers respond to unmet, operational needs from our Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and Civil Servants Boot Camps FedTech Accelerators Hackathons
AFWERX Started in 2017 with support from Sec Wilson to act as a catalyst for agile Air Force engagement across industry, academia, and non-traditional contributors to create transformative opportunities and foster an Air Force culture of innovation. Currently locations in Las Vegas, Austin, and Crystal City Plans for locations in Montgomery (and others?)
AFWERX Innovation Approach An Air Force innovation project typically needs 5 types of nodes to succeed
Innovate AFRL Technology Accelerators Commercial technology accelerators are proven commercial model for startups and small businesses to secure funding for development AFRL i2i Exchange Embedding S&Es w/ startups and non-defense oriented companies for high intensity short duration collaborative development efforts AFRL Entrepreneurial Opportunities Program Supports AFRL s tech transfer mission by providing entrepreneurialism as a viable mechanism for maturing promising AFRL technologies into commercial products Partnering w/ Entrepreneurs Commercialization Academy (RI; Rome, NY) FedTech (DC, Maryland) Start-Up Technology Acceleration Project (RQ, RY, 711 th, RH, RX; Dayton, OH) University of New Mexico s Tech Navigator Challenge (RV, RD; Albuquerque, NM) Innovation Hubs 444 @ Webster Street Station Innovation District (Dayton, Ohio) UNM Rainforest @ InnovateABQ Campus Doolittle Innovation Hub AFRL Maker Hub (Dayton and Albuquerque) Rapid prototyping with 3D printers, CNC Mills, Laser Cutters, Embroidering Machine SBIR Special Topics 3 Month $50K Phase I and 15 Month $750K Phase II; C-UAS, Weather, PNT, Human Centered ISR, Logistics, and Open Innovation AFRL/SDPE Innovation Pipeline Innovation fund for new, un-pom ed efforts: Innovation Incentives
Open Innovation Challenges AFRL is experimenting with a series of open innovation challenges around adaptive basing to occur over the next 6-9 months Open innovation can take several forms, AFRL is pursuing a series of awards based challenges An open innovation challenge looks for external ideas to address challenging technical problems AFRL is working with its PIA network, AFWERX, AF users and InnoCentive to collect ideas for across the world, demonstrate prototypes and pursue possible acquisition AFAFRL and SDPE is looking at traditional and non-traditional acquisition approaches for the follow on to the challenges Ideation Challenge $10K Award for possible technology solutions 50 100 ideas submitted Submissions from across world Top 1 3 receive award Prototyping Challenge Top 10 ideas are run through US companies to produce prototypes Prototyping demonstration at NCMR facility 1 4 $50K awards AF R&D or Acquisition Work with AFCEC or AF Special Ops as end users Further refinement of prototypes Further development, integration for customer Top 10 selected to go forward Further research and development
Special SBIR Topics In 18.2 SBIR call (open May 22, 2018) Air Force SBIR/STTR Program office is piloting 6 Special Topics (AF182-001-AF182-006) Piloting new processes for accelerating technologies to warfighter and reducing barriers for small business working with the government (ie return on investment) Treat SBIRs more as a commercial seed and VC investment, capturing and leveraging the lean start up and business model canvas methodologies AF Special Topics are different in several ways from standard AF SBIR/STTR application, award and execution Phase I Tech application of 5 pages with 15 page slide/pitch deck A Phase I 2-month technical duration and a 1-month final reporting period Slide deck accepted as final report vs ANSI word document report A Phase I awards not exceed $50,000, up to 8 Phase I awards A 15 month (12 month technical, 3 month final reporting) up to $750K Phase II 18.2 SBIR Special Topics C-UAS, Weather, PNT, Human Centered ISR, Logistics, and Open Innovation PNT and Human Centered ISR are ties to accelerator model
Topics AF182 001 thru 006 Special Vs Traditional Phase I Technical Volume Not to exceed 5 pages. Phase I Additional Info (Volume 5) Attach a pitch deck not to exceed 15 slides Phase I Award Not to exceed $50,000 Phase I Technical Duration Phase I Final Reporting Period Phase II Technical Volume 2 months 1 month Not to exceed 15 pages Phase II Additional Info (Volume 5) Attach a pitch deck not to exceed 15 slides. Phone/video interview. Phase II Technical and Reporting Period Typically 15 months Phase II Initial Award Not to exceed $750,000 All Topics Except Topics AF182 001 thru 006 Not to exceed 20 pages See requirements below Not to exceed $150,000 6 months 3 months Not to exceed 50 pages See requirements below Typically 27 months Not to exceed $750,000
Typical Technology/Startup Accelerator The accelerator facilitator typically provides a small amount of seed money for the companies to participate (and takes equity in return) $ Angel investors or venture capitalists invest in promising companies $$$ Problem Statement The Accelerator Program Curriculum + Resources + Mentorship Facilitated by an accelerator/incubator. ~3 months Demo Day Potentially hundreds of startups Downselect 5 10 selected as the cohort
Technology Accelerator + SBIR Simplified proposals (pitch deck) SBIR Phase I 5 10 awards (~$50k) Non SBIR funds cover accelerator facilitation SBIR Phase II Multiple awards (~$300 $750K) Further development and investment (via VC, SBIR or OTA) SBIR topic Created by AFRL and AF User Addresses a problem area not a potential solution Downselect performed by AFRL POCs, potential end adopters, tech accelerator (the facilitator) Technical Feasibility Commercial sustainability Mission Utility The Accelerator Program Curriculum + Resources + Mentorship ~3 months Potentially integrated with Tech Warrior Demo Day Corporation purchases company or technology Selling product or service to market or DoD
Other Pathways Basic Research by small businesses or Universities www.grants.gov and search for Air Force or topic area Basic, Applied and Advanced Research Broad Agency Announcements https://defenseinnovationmarketplace.dtic.mil/ and Air Force Resources Rapid Innovation Fund, $3M for rapid solutions https://www.afrapidinnovationfund.com AFRL Small Business Engagement, AFRL Maker Hubs, Colliders, and AF Small Business Hub http://afrlsbhub.com/ http://afrlmakerhub.com/home/ https://www.meetup.com/collider/ http://www.afrlnewmexico.com/about-afrl/ Open Innovation Challenges: https://www.challenge.gov/list/ https://www.innocentive.com/ Air Force (And DoD) Technology Transfer, license AF created IP https://techlinkcenter.org/ Small Business Innovation Research, seed and growth funding for small businesses https://www.afsbirsttr.af.mil/ Tech Warrior, showcase your technology and get it in the hands of users https://wsri.wright.edu/tech-warrior/
Questions