Defense Technology Initiative (DTI)

Mission: To promote job creation and growth opportunities for businesses and universities in the New England defense sector.
 
The Massachusetts Defense Technology Initiative (MassDTI) was established by the Massachusetts High Technology Council (MHTC) in 2003 as an unincorporated business entity that drove the successful BRAC 2005 outcome regarding Hanscom Air Force Base and the US Army Soldier Systems Center in Massachusetts. 
 
Beginning in March 2008, DTI is building on its original and tightly focused BRAC mission to achieve the more comprehensive and strategic objective of establishing New England as the definitive global leader in the defense technology industry.  Its mission is to enhance the competitiveness of the regional technology clusters, promote the expansion of new missions at New England military installations, enhance the image of the region’s defense technology cluster and generate growth opportunities for New England firms.  In order to achieve this mission DTI is providing the necessary leadership in two core areas:

• Coordinating regional private sector, non-profit and academic organizations to identify and implement initiatives to enhance the competitiveness of the defense technology cluster.
• Spearheading outreach and relationship development in the defense community, principally in the Pentagon and throughout Department of Defense structure, including New England military installations.
  

Objectives

• Define the New England defense clusters:  Complete a comprehensive research project, combining old and new research to define the organizations that comprise the clusters, their current and potential scope and impact and their capabilities.  This project offers 3 significant benefits:
• Establishing a baseline for the clusters for DTI to measure accomplishment;
• Defining capabilities which will support marketing messages to the Pentagon for mission growth; and
• Identification of additional organizations to participate in DTI.
  
• Unify New England defense clusters:  DTI provides the recognized, unifying presence in the New England defense technology community capable of identifying and coordinating opportunities for collaboration among private, public and university players in the region.  Policy and competitiveness issues, such as workforce training or curriculum shaping, will also be identified and acted upon – through either action-oriented working groups or through direct lobbying by High Tech Councils and others.
  
• Enhance perception of New England in national defense community
• Serve as a liaison or “voice” of the New England defense community at large to Pentagon officials and other military leaders to promote a positive perception of New England – both its technological capabilities and its support for the military.
• Establish and enhance relationships with New England military installations in order to create opportunities for greater collaboration and support between the New England defense community and New England military installations.
• Work with local, regional and national media to highlight the strength and successes of the defense technology cluster.
  
• Pursue and promote growth opportunities for New England defense firms:  Use the knowledge, capabilities and relationships of DTI to present a case for new or expanded missions to be based in New England and utilize the New England defense cluster.
  
• Expand participation in and support of DTI: The effectiveness of DTI, as measured by the above objectives, will dramatically increase as the number of participants grows more diverse and inclusive of any organization that does, or could, serve the defense industry.  A broader level of participating/sponsoring organizations will also defray the operating costs of DTI across more organizations and therefore strengthen the viability of DTI as an on going, self-sustaining entity.


Projected Tactics/ Actions

• Coordinate with public offices, the Governors and Congressional delegations, to ensure consistent messaging, enhance resources and information and to obtain public support when necessary.
• Hold conferences/ workshops to bring together components of the New England defense community. 
• Invite speaker(s) from the senior leadership of DoD and the services to provide insight and information to DTI members.
• Hold workshops to assist small to medium sized companies develop business opportunities with the federal government.
• Meet regularly with regional military leaders as well as Pentagon officials and other leaders in the national defense community.
• Support development and implementation of collaborative arrangements for research or procurement, such as the Natick Soldier Systems Center initiative started during the BRAC 2005 campaign.
• Design and implement public outreach campaign.
• Identify and coordinate implementation of worker training and other curriculum areas to link higher education to the needs of the New England defense community.