The Defense Innovation Unit and the Naval Postgraduate School have signed a memorandum of understanding to accelerate defense education, research and prototyping through staff exchanges, collaborative experimentation projects at the Naval Innovation Center within NPS and student fellowships at DIU.
DIU said Tuesday it will also work with NPS to advance the adoption of commercial dual-use technology platforms and deliver critical tech capabilities to the fleet and the joint force.
“DIU partners with many Silicon Valley organizations, from tech icons to start-ups as well as universities, and NPS is a natural fit given its defense focus,” said DIU Director Doug Beck.
“Through this partnership we will connect companies with NPS talent and technology leaders, providing a catalyst for their learning and applied research to deliver innovative solutions for the joint force,” added Beck.
Beck signed the MOU with Ann Rondeau, a retired U.S. Navy vice admiral and president of NPS.
Rondeau said NPS provides a venue for students to test new ideas with industry partners and serves as an innovation hub to transition research concepts into prototype capabilities and applications.
“This new partnership with DIU will greatly enhance the impact our students can have on the fleet and force through expanded collaborations and greater access to emerging technologies,” she added.