DARPA - seeking research concepts, studies and analysis proposals
+ the DARPA Embedded Entrepreneur Initiative (EEI)
Overview
The DSO Office-wide BAA invites proposers to submit innovative basic or applied research concepts or studies and analysis proposals that address one or more of the following technical thrust areas:
Novel Materials & Structures - includes, but is not limited to, science and technology in quantum devices, atomic scale systems, and functional and structural materials.
Sensing & Measurement - includes, but is not limited to, science and technology in quantum sensing and metrology, seeing (sensing) the unseen, and novel light sources
Computation & Processing - includes, but is not limited to, science and technology of quantum computing, cryptography, and modeling of complex systems
Enabling Operations - includes, but is not limited to, technologies to support space based operations, tactically remote environments, and resource assurance
Collective Intelligence - includes, but is not limited to, exploration of complex social systems, adaptable Artificial Intelligence (AI), and AI-accelerated learning
Global Change - includes, but is not limited to, national security concerns related to global issues associated with raw material availability, environmental catastrophes, and digital societies
DARPA Embedded Entrepreneur Initiative (EEI)
Awardees pursuant to this solicitation may be eligible to participate in the DARPA Embedded Entrepreneurship Initiative (EEI) during the award’s period of performance. EEI is a limited scope program offered by DARPA, at DARPA’s discretion, to a small subset of awardees. The goal of DARPA’s EEI is to increase the likelihood that DARPA-funded technologies take root in the U.S. and provide new capabilities for national defense. EEI supports DARPA’s mission “to make pivotal investments in breakthrough technologies and capabilities for national security” by accelerating the transition of innovations out of the lab and into new capabilities for the Department of Defense (DoD). EEI investment supports development of a robust and deliberate Go-to-Market strategy for selling technology product to the government and commercial markets and positions DARPA awardees to attract U.S. investment. The following is for informational and planning purposes only and does not constitute solicitation of proposals to the EEI. There are three elements to DARPA’s EEI:
(1) A Senior Commercialization Advisor (SCA) from DARPA who works with the Program Manager (PM) to examine the business case for the awardee’s technology and uses commercial methodologies to identify steps toward achieving a successful transition of technology to the government and commercial markets;
(2) Connections to potential industry and investor partners via EEI’s Investor Working Groups; and
(3) Additional funding on an awardee’s contract for the awardee to hire an embedded entrepreneur to achieve specific milestones in a Go-to-Market strategy for transitioning the technology to products that serve both defense and commercial markets. This embedded entrepreneur’s qualifications should include business experience within the target industries of interest, experience in commercializing early stage technology, and the ability to communicate and interact with technical and non-technical stakeholders. Funding for EEI is typically no more than HR001122S0041 DSO OFFICE-WIDE BAA AMENDMENT 1 20 $250,000 per awardee over the duration of the award. An awardee may apportion EEI funding to hire more than one embedded entrepreneur, if achieving the milestones requires different expertise that can be obtained without exceeding the awardee’s total EEI funding. The EEI effort is intended to be conducted concurrent with the research program without extending the period of performance.