Register to attend the in-person Global Innovation Challenge Launch Summit

Overview

Join the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) at the Global Innovation Challenge Launch Summit, hosted by the United States’ Defense Innovation Unit and Japan’s Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics Agency (ATLA). The event will be held in-person on Dec. 4, 2024 in Tokyo, Japan.

At the summit, the DIU and ATLA will announce a co-sponsored prize challenge, “DIU and ATLA: U.S.-Japan Global Innovation Challenge.” The challenge will accept solutions in two technology areas: artificial intelligence (AI) and biotechnology, with prizes awarded to the top performers. Details about the upcoming challenge will be released at the Global Innovation Challenge Launch Summit in Tokyo, and on the National Security Innovation Network (NSIN)’s, a component of the DIU, website.

The joint challenge follows the signing of a Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) for Defense Innovation Cooperation between Director General Kyosuke Matsumoto, Director of ATLA, and Doug Beck, Director of DIU, on Sept. 9, 2024.

The partnership allows DIU and ATLA to explore joint project opportunities and promote the integration of commercial technologies at speed and scale into defense systems for operational demands in the Indo-Pacific. The effort also begins to deepen bilateral cooperation between the countries growing defense commercial bases.

Companies with interest in commercializing AI or biodefense technologies are encouraged to attend and learn more about the upcoming U.S.-Japan Global Innovation Challenge.

The in-person launch event will be held at The Garden Room in Yebisu Garden Place, featuring keynote speeches about defense innovation and presentations of themes for the solicitation. Details of the event, including the venue, schedule, and registration procedures, can be found in the registration forms below. Please direct any questions about the event to prizechallenge@diu.mil and refrain from contacting the venue directly.

Due to space constraints, a maximum of two representatives per company are allowed to attend the event. The event will be capped at 200 attendees. For those unable to attend, there will be a virtual event held on Jan. 8 ET/9 JT, 2025, and registration will go live early December.

Tentative Agenda

  • Doors Open 1:00PM JST
  • Keynote Speeches and Theme Briefing 2:00PM-5:00PM JST
  • Reception for Networking (with food and drink) 5:30PM-7:30PM JST

Register Now

Please register in advance to secure your spot. A maximum of two representatives per company are allowed to attend.

Register Now (English)

Register Now (Japanese)

Questions

Please direct your questions to prizechallenge@diu.mil.

About ATLA

The Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics Agency (ATLA) of Japan is dedicated to advancing national defense capabilities through cutting-edge technological innovation and strategic acquisition practices. Our mission is to enhance Japan’s defense readiness by fostering collaboration with international partners, driving research and development in critical defense technologies, and ensuring the effective and efficient procurement of advanced systems. By integrating technological advancements and logistical expertise, ATLA aims to fortify Japan’s security posture and contribute to global defense initiatives.

About the Defense Innovation Unit

The Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) strengthens national security by accelerating the adoption of commercial technology in the Department of Defense and bolstering our allied and national security innovation bases. DIU partners with organizations across the DoD to rapidly prototype and field dual-use capabilities that solve operational challenges at speed and scale. With offices in Silicon Valley, Boston, Austin, Chicago and Washington, DC, DIU is the Department’s gateway to leading technology companies across the country.

About National Security Innovation Network

NSIN is a component of the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), a U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) program office. We are set up to collaborate with a wide variety of innovators to include universities, researchers, students, entrepreneurs and start-ups. We create opportunities for collaboration across communities and connect those that might not traditionally work in national security. Together, we help drive national security innovation and develop technologies that directly support the individuals responsible for protecting our country.

For more information or interview requests with Team NSIN, please contact us at media@nsin.mil.

Intellectual Property Considerations: Applicants retain ownership of existing Intellectual Property (IP) submitted under this Challenge and agree that their submissions are their original work. Applicants are presumed to have sufficient rights to submit the submission. For any submission made to the Challenge, you grant DIU a limited license to use this IP for testing and evaluation for efforts specifically related to the Challenge. DIU will negotiate with individual competitors in the event additional usage, integration, or development is contemplated.


Other Transaction Authority: This DIU Challenge public announcement is an open call to small businesses and non-traditional defense contractors seeking innovative, commercial technologies proposed to create new DoD solutions or potential new capabilities fulfilling requirements, closing capability gaps, or providing potential technological advancements, technologies fueled by commercial or strategic investment, but also concept demonstrations, pilots, and agile development activities improving commercial technologies, existing Government-owned capabilities, or concepts for broad Defense application(s). As such, the Government reserves the right to award a contract or an Other Transaction for any purpose, to include a prototype or research, under this public announcement. The Federal Government is not responsible for any monies expended by the applicant before award and is under no obligation to pursue such Other Transactions.


Satisfying Competition Requirements: This DIU Challenge Open Call Announcement is considered to have potential for further efforts that may be accomplished via FAR-based contracting instruments, Other Transaction Authority (OTA) for Prototype Projects 10 USC 4022 and Research 10 USC 4021, and/or Prizes for advanced technology achievements 10 USC 4025. The public open call announcement made on the NSIN website is considered to satisfy the reasonable effort to obtain competition in accordance with 10 USC 4025(b) and 10 USC 4022 (b)(2). Accordingly, FAR-based actions will follow announcement procedures per FAR 5.201(b).


The Defense Innovation Unit and the National Security Innovation Network reserve the right to cancel, suspend, and/or modify the Challenge, or any part of it, for any reason, at the Defense Innovation Unit and the National Security Innovation Network’s sole discretion.