Discover Where Your Innovation Aligns with Defense Missions and DIU Priorities
Operational Mission Alignment & DIU Portfolio Guidance
Encountering Innovation (EI) aligns participating technologies with operational mission needs across Geographic and Functional Combatant Commands of the U.S. Department of Defense.
To support effective matchmaking with Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), DoW Science & Technology Advisors, and other subject matter experts, innovators are asked to classify their technology using two structured layers:
1. DIU Portfolio and Area of Focus
2. Operational Mission Environment
These classifications help articulate operational relevance and improve alignment with real-world deployment scenarios.
Part I – Defense Innovation Unit (DIU)
Portfolio & Areas of Focus
Encountering Innovation (EI) uses the Defense Innovation Unit's current technology priorities to help innovators identify potential alignment between their capabilities and national security needs.
Applicants should identify the DIU Portfolio and corresponding Area of Focus that most closely match their technology. Innovations that address multiple mission needs are welcome, and the EI Team can assist with classification and alignment during the review process.
1. Autonomous Warfare
Technologies that enable unmanned and autonomous operations, improve mission effectiveness, and reduce risks to military personnel.
Areas of Focus:
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Unmanned Systems Across Air, Ground, and Maritime
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Automatic Target Recognition (ATR)
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Computer Vision
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Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems (Counter-UAS)
2. Kill Web
Technologies that improve the integration of sensing, communications, decision-making, and operational effects across connected military systems.
Areas of Focus:
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Sensors, Networks, and Decision Systems
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Space, Communications, and Networking
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Electronic Warfare
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Cyber
3. 10x
Technologies that deliver major improvements in operational capability, production scalability, cost effectiveness, and speed of deployment.
Areas of Focus:
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Sustainment
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Force Resilience
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Scaled Combat Power
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Future Warfighter
Crosscutting Technologies — Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
Artificial intelligence and machine learning capabilities may support multiple DIU Portfolios and Areas of Focus. Applicants should select the primary portfolio and Area of Focus that best reflect their technology's intended defense application.
Additional Guidance for Innovators
Technologies may support more than one DIU Portfolio or Area of Focus. Applicants should select the closest primary alignment when completing the EI2027 application.
These classifications help facilitate technology discovery and mission alignment. They do not restrict EI participation to the listed categories or guarantee DIU interest, selection, funding, or contracting.
For the latest official DIU portfolio descriptions and Areas of Focus go to DIU website.
Part II – Operational Mission Alignment
In addition to DIU classification, innovators are asked to identify the primary operational environment where their technology would most likely be deployed.
These mission environments reflect common operational contexts across Geographic and Functional Combatant Commands of the U.S. Department of War.
Indo-Pacific / Maritime Operations
Technologies supporting naval forces, littoral environments, expeditionary basing, distributed sensing, and long-range maritime logistics. Applicable across maritime theaters and distributed operational environments.
Arctic / Extreme Cold Environments
Technologies designed for extreme cold, polar regions, high-altitude, or austere environments where infrastructure is limited. Includes mobility, energy resilience, sensing, and survivability enhancements in harsh climates.
Contested Logistics & Sustainment
Technologies strengthening supply chain resilience and operational sustainment in denied, degraded, or contested environments. Includes distributed manufacturing, autonomous resupply, predictive maintenance, expeditionary power generation, and solutions that reduce vulnerability in supply routes.
Counter-WMD / CBRND Operations
Technologies supporting detection, protection, mitigation, modeling, medical countermeasures, and response to chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosive threats. Includes decontamination, pathogen elimination, hazard neutralization, and force protection capabilities.
Contested Spectrum & Electronic Warfare
Technologies operating in or managing degraded, denied, or contested electromagnetic environments. Includes electronic warfare systems, anti-jamming communications, spectrum management, cyber-electromagnetic integration, and resilient communications infrastructure.
Homeland & Critical Infrastructure Protection
Technologies supporting domestic defense missions, disaster response, border security, and protection of critical infrastructure. Includes solutions for energy grid resilience, public health security, emergency response, and infrastructure protection.
Space Domain Operations
Technologies supporting military space operations, space-based sensing, launch capabilities, orbital logistics, satellite communications resilience, and space domain awareness.
Installation & Base Resilience
Technologies enhancing security, energy independence, cyber resilience, water systems, and operational continuity of military installations worldwide.
Global / Multi-Theater Application
Technologies that provide scalable, adaptable capabilities applicable across multiple operational theaters and mission environments.
How This Information Is Used
EI utilizes these classifications to:
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Align technologies with DIU Portfolios and corresponding Areas of Focus.
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Improve matchmaking with DoW Science & Technology Advisorys and subject matter experts
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Support alignment across Geographic and Functional Combatant Commands
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Strengthen operational relevance and follow-on engagement opportunities
If you are unsure which category best fits your technology, select the closest match and provide clarification in your mission narrative section.