Featured: How AMDEF Moves Work Into Adoption
Three fast paths into the work—JWITC for transition, Mechanisms for execution routes, and Membership for structured access.
JWITC: Transition Engine
Accelerate commercial and dual-use technology into operational use. JWITC exists to simplify, accelerate, and de-risk transition so technology doesn’t stall between prototype and the field.
Mechanisms
Choose the right pathway. SBIR/STTR, OTA, and CRADA routes—matched to maturity, risk, mission pull, and transition reality.
Membership
Get structured access. Research focus areas, transition patterns, and execution insights that reduce risk and shorten cycles.
What We Work On
AMDEF focuses on applied defense R&D that can transition—work designed to move from research into programs, platforms, and operational use. We partner with government organizations and academic institutions to give small businesses a real path from innovation to adoption.
✔ Applied R&D
✔ Transition-first
✔ Small business enablement
How We Choose What to Work On
AMDEF selects R&D efforts based on one standard: can this realistically transition into adoption? We prioritize problems with mission pull, measurable technical progress, and a credible path into programs and platforms.
- Mission relevance: tied to real operational needs
- Transitionability: a plausible path to adoption exists
- Evidence: progress is measurable and testable
- Integration reality: constraints and interfaces are understood
Joint Warfighter Innovation & Transition Consortium (JWITC)
JWITC accelerates the transition of commercial and dual-use technology into operational use. As an AMDEF initiative, JWITC exists to simplify, accelerate, and de-risk defense acquisition and transition—so mission-relevant technology doesn’t stall between prototype and the field.
JWITC bridges the gap between innovation and execution by aligning emerging technology with validated operational problem sets and acquisition pathways supporting the Joint Concept for Warfighting (JCWA) and the JADC2 framework.
For DoD / PM / PEO
- Reduce transition risk and shorten time-to-field
- Clearer integration, security, and sustainment expectations
- Better prepared vendors for execution and scale
For Innovators / Small Business
- Navigate pathways with less friction and clearer expectations
- Transition guidance before momentum is lost
- Alignment to operational problem sets and stakeholders
DoD-safe note: JWITC complements existing innovation and acquisition organizations by improving readiness for transition—helping ensure technologies are contractable, scalable, interoperable, and aligned with operational realities. JWITC does not replace acquisition authorities; it helps ensure the technology and vendor are ready to execute.
Current Focus Areas
These focus areas represent the kinds of applied defense R&D where small business innovation can move fast—if transition is designed in from day one.
Cyber & Resilience
Operationally relevant cyber capabilities, resilience, and mission assurance—built to integrate and scale.
Electromagnetic Spectrum
RF communications, sensing, EW-adjacent enablers, and spectrum-aware systems that work in contested environments.
Autonomy & Edge Systems
Autonomy, edge compute, and decision support that can be tested, measured, and adopted under real constraints.
AI-Enabled Capability
Applied AI that is verifiable, testable, and deployable—focused on operational outcomes, not demos.
Space & PNT Enablers
Resilient capabilities supporting space-enabled missions, navigation, timing, and contested operations.
Rapid Prototyping for Transition
Prototypes designed to become programs: integration-ready artifacts, test evidence, and adoption pathways.
Note: You can rename, replace, or reorder focus areas based on current priorities. The intent is to show “what we work on” without publishing sensitive details.
How Work Moves From Research to Adoption
AMDEF is built to reduce the friction between innovation and adoption. We do that by aligning government, academia, and small business around transition outcomes—not just activity.
- Define the adoption target: what program, platform, or mission owner could adopt this?
- Build the right evidence: test results, interfaces, artifacts that reduce buyer risk
- Use fit-for-purpose pathways: SBIR/STTR, OTAs, CRADAs, and other mechanisms where appropriate
- Maintain tempo: execution rhythm that prevents drift and stalls
Why Subscribe
Subscribers get structured access to AMDEF’s R&D focus, transition thinking, and execution patterns—so you can align faster, reduce risk, and avoid dead ends.
- R&D focus areas and problem framing
- Transition and adoption patterns that work
- Mechanism guidance (SBIR/STTR, OTA, CRADA)
- Institutional insight from active engagement—not theory
Get Inside the Work
Subscribe to gain structured access to the people, focus areas, and transition approaches that move dual-use innovation toward real adoption.