Defense Innovation Unit
Our Mission:
- Accelerate DoD adoption of commercial technology
- Transform military capacity and capability
- Strengthen the national security innovation base
The Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) is a Department of Defense (DoD) entity that accelerates the adoption of commercial technology to strengthen national security. DIU partners with Military Departments, Combatant Commands, and component organizations to rapidly prototype and deliver commercial solutions that address military challenges across the joint force. Headquartered in Silicon Valley with additional offices in Boston, MA; Austin, TX; Chicago, IL; and the Pentagon, DIU accesses leading technology companies across the country on behalf of our DoD partners and lowers barriers to entry into the defense sector.
DIU relies on agile acquisition processes and Other Transaction (OT) authority under 10 U.S.C. 2371b to effectively meet these needs. In 2016, DIU pioneered and launched the Commercial Solutions Opening (CSO) contracting process in partnership with Army Contracting Command - New Jersey. The CSO process is designed to competitively award prototype OT agreements on commercial terms at commercial speeds, focusing on outcomes over requirements and incentivizing new companies to do business with the Department. If a prototype agreement is successfully completed, OT authority allows for a noncompetitive, follow-on production OT agreement. Combined, the CSO process and OT authority enable DIU to test, deliver, and scale advanced commercial solutions to national security problems.
