Innovations & technologies

IARPA Reaching Out to Nontraditional Industry

The Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity is reaching out to nontraditional companies to help the U.S. intelligence community maintain its technological edge, the organization's director said March 14.

The outfit, known as IARPA, is modeled after the Pentagon's Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, which works to develop cutting-edge capabilities for the U.S. military.

To help the United States maintain its lead in a number of research areas, the organization employs multiple strategies to leverage the work of a wide variety of industry players, IARPA Director Jason Matheny noted in a meeting with reporters in Washington, D.C.

For instance, IARPA attempts to run declassified programs whenever possible and issues broad agency announcements that are open to anyone, he said. 

It also holds public contests to attract companies that do not want to endure the hassles of typical federal contracting processes. These competitions include cash prizes. 

“They don’t have to have a contracting officer go through the six month process in order to go earn money,” Matheny explained. “If they can solve the problem, we award them cash.”