Programs & Events

National Security Innovation Forum: The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on National Security

The most pressing security threats of the modern era—from large-scale cyber disruptions, and pandemic disease, to catastrophic natural disasters, and technology-empowered terrorism—are now so complex and interconnected, they transcend traditional distinctions between disciplines and bureaucratic authorities. 

On March 17, the National Security Innovation Forum brought together specialists from government, academia, industry, investment, and the start-up innovation community to address key national security issues and identify practical solutions. Participants examined the full spectrum of national security challenges, from peer military competition to the effects of climate change; and analyzed solutions that ranged from technical and operational innovation, to acquisition reform, policy improvement, and research-based understanding of the theoretical constructs of competition and conflict in the modern world.

The National Security Innovation Forum is a collaboration between the University of California’s Institute for Global Conflict and Cooperation (IGCC), the Silicon Valley Defense Group, the National Security Innovation Catalyst, and partners from the United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada.

National Security Table-Top Exercises

Catalyst routinely brings together national security practitioners, technologists, entrepreneurs and other experts to examine the most important national security challenges through the context of tabletop exercises. These exercises demonstrate the practitioner's missions and challenges in a way that stimulates the identification of innovative solutions.

5G and National Security

The impending deployment of 5G technologies is expected to have far-reaching social, economic and security implications. While the potential exists for these technologies to provide substantial benefit across a wide range of human activities, there also exists the possibility for serious negative externalities that range from national security and privacy threats to health concerns.

Catalyst, in partnership with the UC San Diego’s Office of Research Affairs, School of Global Policy and Strategy, School of Engineering, School of Management, San Diego State University’s Homeland Security program and a host of industry and government partners, is conducting research to identify and develop policy recommendations for national leaders to maximize the potential, and mitigate the risks, of 5G.

Geo-Economics, Innovation & National Security

This three-day symposium, in partnership with the UC Institute on Global Conflict and Cooperation, National Defense University, the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments and the Silicon Valley Defense Working Group, will look at the emerging geo-economic competitive landscape and explore the implications for national security innovation. Specifically, day two of the event will focus on partnerships between innovative private industries and the national security establishment, bringing together subject matter experts from across defense (military and civilian), industry (established and entrepreneurial), investment, academia and policy/law-making to better understand how to improve the competitive position of the U.S. in defense and dual-use innovation.

National Security Innovation “Boot Camp”

This one-week certificate course will provide early and mid-career professionals from business, military, government and academic backgrounds a practical foundation in national security innovation. The program will include the history of national security innovation—when and why it worked (or didn’t); fundamental tenets of innovation and how they apply in large bureaucracies; a practical understanding of the U.S. national security architecture and its mechanisms to make or resist change; and a series of case studies with applied exercises to reinforce the course material and generate creative ideas for positive change.