DIU and the Tawazun Council of the UAE sign a memorandum of understanding to strengthen defense cooperation and develop cutting-edge technologies
Following the Departments announcement to establish a comprehensive U.S.-UAE Major Defense Partnership, the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) and the Tawazun Council signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to strengthen defense cooperation and enhance mutual capacity for finding solutions to military requirements by developing and accessing cutting-edge technologies through non-traditional processes.
This collaboration will deepen ties in defense innovation, facilitate joint capability development, and expand industrial and investment partnerships across both defense ecosystems — aligning with strategic efforts and investments outlined during the President's trip to the region.
"We are building a global network by fostering collaboration to stay ahead of emerging threats," said DIU Director, Doug Beck. "By co-developing technologies, converging national security and private sector expertise, and onboarding non-traditional companies, we are accelerating the integration of commercial technologies into the defense market."
Under the agreement, areas of collaboration include developing bilateral prize challenges to tackle shared operational needs, creating pathways for start-ups to access labs and testing facilities — all with a focus on innovation-driven collaboration and ecosystem growth to include knowledge sharing and access to private capital, and deep-technology ecosystems.
The MOU supports DIU's strategic efforts to deepen international partnerships and quickly evolve the instruments of defense innovation and acquisition in concert with the commercial defense sector globally. By building a strong international community of defense innovation entities among allies and partners, DOD is enhancing best practices for harnessing and sharing the best commercially derived technologies for the warfighter in defense of the free and open international system, through mission-driven collaboration among the many nations that rely on that system globally.
