Submit An Idea
How Do I Present an Idea to DARPA Strategic Technology Office (DARPA/STO)?
The beginning of most DARPA programs is an idea. Most of these ideas originally come from outside DARPA, and are recognized as an opportunity by a DARPA Program Manager (PM); they then grow through initial funding, full program, and often eventual DoD application. This process is critical to the success of DARPA, as well as you. DARPA PM's are interested in any idea that could lead to improved capability, but are bound by the mission of the Agency. It is important that you understand these, and tailor your presentation to maximize success.
First, DARPA is not a product developer, and generally can not fund maturing or commercializing technology. If your brief begins with "We are just one year from shipping.", the PM may be interested in your idea, but it is unlikely he can help you get it funded. DARPA funding is generally focused on ideas that will otherwise not be developed without DARPA assistance.
Secondly, qualifications and experience are important, but they should not be the basis for your presentation, DARPA funds ideas. If your one hour qualifications brief ends with you asking how you can participate in programs at DARPA, you have wasted both of our time. DARPA funding generally goes to the performers who can demonstrate innovative approaches. Your presentation should focus on the innovative concept you are proposing. Once the concept is presented and there is interest, then qualifications to pursue the concept become relevant. In most briefings, no more than ten minutes of qualifications is needed.
Third, technology solutions are what we fund. We can all agree that anti-gravity has military utility, and we would love to fund such a program, but the key question is how will you achieve anti-gravity? Understanding of the problem or opportunity is certainly important, but a specific and innovative approach is essential to obtaining DARPA funding.
You should be able to ask yourself and answer the following set of questions.
- What are you trying to accomplish?
- How is it done now, and with what limitations?
- What is truly new in your approach which will remove current limitations and improve performance? How much will performance improve?
- If successful, what difference will it make?
- What are the mid-term, final exams or full scale applications required to prove your hypothesis? When will they be done?
- How could this transition to the end user? (usually DoD)
- How much will it cost?
Who do I submit to?
Proposals for the performance of research, development, design, and testing that directly support the Strategic Technology Office can be submitted under Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) 08-10, Strategic Technologies, in accordance with the procedures outlined in the BAA.
Please send any questions or comments to STO Webmaster at webmaster-sto@darpa.mil
