Execution Strategy

The SEI facilitates the transfer of research results to practice in Department of War (DoW) programs, the Office of the Secretary of War’s science and technology initiatives, and non-DoW U.S. government organizations where improvements will also benefit the DoW. In doing so, we gain deeper insight into mission needs—insight that forms the basis for new research. In addition, we transition matured technologies more broadly to defense industrial base organizations and others in the DoW supply chain.

We execute applied research to drive systemic transition of new capabilities for the DoW. Our deep understanding of DoW needs and of the state of the art inform our selection of challenges in software, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence.

To validate research and development concepts, we rapidly iterate with the research community and select mission partners. The results typically impact a single agency. We then scale the concept to multiple agencies and domains by iterating with additional mission partners based on their timing and needs. Finally, we engage policy agencies and industry partners and build the DoW’s awareness of and capacity for the solution to create DoW-wide capability.

Our multidisciplinary approach informs prototype tools, innovative solutions, and input for our sponsor’s policy decisions about software and related technologies. Through ongoing work and communication with customers, the SEI identifies priority areas for further research and development. We combine our body of knowledge with external material and systems engineering to deliver quantitative impact to U.S. government organizations, DoW organizations, and DoW end users.

Funding Sources

In fiscal year 2025, the SEI received funding from a variety of sources in the DoW, civil agencies, and industry.