What's Happening?
General Dynamics is pursuing a strategy to transform competitors into collaborators through coworking spaces and brainstorming events. The company has opened the Mission Emerge Center, a 5,200 square-foot
digital lab near Fort Belvoir, Virginia, to develop military technology in partnership with other companies, including cloud providers. This initiative aims to demonstrate new technologies to the Pentagon and align with its call for defense contractors to take on more risk. The strategy involves creating solutions in a sandbox environment where government customers can engage with and provide input on developing technologies.
Why It's Important?
This collaborative approach by General Dynamics could significantly impact the defense industry by accelerating the development and deployment of new technologies. By fostering partnerships with other companies, General Dynamics aims to leverage commercial R&D budgets and expertise to meet the Defense Department's needs. This strategy aligns with the Pentagon's emphasis on rapid innovation to maintain a competitive edge against global adversaries. The initiative could also open opportunities for smaller, non-traditional companies to contribute to defense projects, potentially leading to more diverse and innovative solutions.
What's Next?
General Dynamics plans to continue expanding its collaborative efforts by joining coworking spaces like Newlab in Detroit, which cater to startups and investors. The company will host events to discuss challenges and solutions for military applications, such as battery life and resupply for ground troops. As these collaborations develop, General Dynamics will need to navigate the complexities of working with competitors and ensure that the partnerships result in viable solutions for the Pentagon. The success of this initiative could influence other defense contractors to adopt similar collaborative models.
