Innovators Face Obstacles in National Security (Overcoming Challenges using MIx)

Innovators Face Obstacles in National Security (Overcoming Challenges using MIx)

Breaking Barriers with Mission Innovation X

In the realm of business and defense, traditionally polar opposites, a shift has taken place. Startups are now eager to collaborate with these organizations, offering innovative solutions to their toughest challenges. Enter Mission Innovation X (MIx), launched by MIT Lecturer Gene Keselman, along with Sertac Karaman and Fiona Murray. This initiative bridges the gap, develops educational programs, supports research, and fosters connections among government organizations, startups, and researchers.

"Startups know how to commercialize their tech, but they might not know the ins and outs of collaborating with the government, especially defense customers," explains Keenan Blatt, MIx's Senior Program Manager. "There's a whole new set of challenges when it comes to engaging with defense."

MIx's mission is to help innovators secure critical early funding while giving defense agencies access to cutting-edge technologies, boosting America's security capabilities. By doing so, MIx has become a thought leader in the emerging "dual-use" space. Researchers and founders strategically choose technologies that have both civic and defense applications.

Gene Keselman, MIx's executive director, believes MIT is uniquely positioned for this task. As the Institute has deep roots in working with the Department of Defense, going as far back as its founding years, according to MIT Aeronautics and Astronautics professor Sertac Karaman.

Today, defense departments seek diverse solutions from not only large prime contractors but also universities, startup ventures, and venture capitalists. Kathryn Person, who left MIT to become a battalion commander last year, initially handled the Institute's growing interest in collaborating with defense and global security communities as a program manager for the MIT Innovation Initiative. MIT's collaboration with startups, like Picogrid and Nominal, demonstrates the positive impact of MIx's work.

MIx research activities give student and graduate researchers opportunities to work on pressing real-world problems. Over 150 students applied for MIx's summer research opportunities through the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program. As MIx Head Research Scientist A.J. Perez notes, "We're helping push the boundaries of what's possible and exploring the frontiers of technology, but in a publishable way."

Unlocking the Future with MIx

One of MIx's most impactful projects involved Picogrid, a startup focused on developing an early wildfire detection system. With MIx's help, Picogrid secured a small business grant from the U.S. Air Force to build the system. MIT students built a computer vision model for Picogrid's devices to detect smoke in the sky, opening new possibilities in machine learning.

In another project, MIT collaborated with the alumni-founded startup Nominal to improve post-flight data analysis for the U.S. Air Force's Test Pilot School. With these achievements, MIx's vision of facilitating connections, education, and research seems set to make a significant impact on the defense sector.

As Sertac Karaman points out, "We haven't even scratched the surface of the potential for MIx. This could be the start of something much bigger." And with MIx at the helm, that future is looking brighter.

[1] https://news.mit.edu/2021/mitz-mission-innovation-x-bridges-gap-between-startups-government-0628[2] https://innovation.mit.edu/mitz[3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mission_Innovation_X

1. Mission Innovation X (MIx) is a new initiative that bridges the gap between government organizations, startups, and researchers.
2. Startups can commercialize their technology, but might not be familiar with the intricacies of working with the government, particularly defense customers.
3. MIx aids innovators in securing critical early funding while providing defense agencies access to cutting-edge technologies, thereby boosting America's security capabilities.
4. MIx has emerged as a thought leader in the "dual-use" space, focusing on technologies with both civilian and defense applications.
5. MIT, with its deep history of working with the Department of Defense, is uniquely positioned for tasks like those undertaken by MIx.
6. Today, defense departments look to not only large prime contractors, but also universities, startup ventures, and venture capitalists for diverse solutions.
7. MIx's research activities offer student and graduate researchers opportunities to work on real-world problems, and over 150 students have applied for MIx's summer research opportunities.
8. One of MIx's impactful projects involved Picogrid, a startup that developed an early wildfire detection system, which MIx helped secure a small business grant for.
9. In another project, MIx collaborated with the alumni-founded startup Nominal to improve post-flight data analysis for the U.S. Air Force's Test Pilot School.
10. MIx's vision of fostering connections, education, and research has the potential to make a significant impact on the defense sector.
11. Sertac Karaman suggests that MIx has only scratched the surface of its potential, hinting that it could be the start of something much bigger.
12. With MIx at the helm, the future looks brighter, promising resilience, innovation, and continued advancements in technology, science, finance, engineering, education, entrepreneurship, and more.

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