DOD Supply Base Resilience and Diversification Program

In June 2020, The Ohio State University’s Center for Design and Manufacturing Excellence (CDME) launched the U.S. Department of Defense Supply Base Resilience and Diversification (SBRD) Initiative. The program, developed alongside the U.S. Department of Defense Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation, was designed to provide product development support for Ohio small businesses, startups, and inventors. CDME pools new ideas, narrows down the field of candidates, and works with GDI Partners to host technology pitch days for selected companies to present their solution to military technology scouts and articulate how their idea supports the defense mission.

Projects are undertaken in three different rounds spanning 18 months, with approximately seven technologies chosen in each round. Selected companies will walk away with a prototype, or minimally viable product (MVP).

The third-round application window has closed.

“NODIS TruTint is revolutionizing windows, making them smart, with
electrically switchable color, tint and infrared - reducing energy
consumption and CO2 emissions by 50%. NODIS is using its smart glass
technology to create camouflage glass that adapts to the environment.

Through the SBRD Program, CDME is developing the controllers used to
control our smart glass and then testing NODIS camouflage smart glass to
ensure reliability and operation in extreme environments. We are excited to
have CDME work with us on this important and challenging productization
of TruTint camouflage smart glass.”

CDME’s mission is to enhance the manufacturing competitiveness of the United States.

We aim to achieve this goal by focusing on product and student development. Through industry-funded product development projects, undergraduate students gain hand-on, mentor-based experience integrating new technology into market-ready applications. The center operates at 28,000 square-foot, ITAR compliant manufacturing facility on the West Campus of The Ohio State University, and houses more than $12 million worth of advanced manufacturing equipment.

CDME works with more than 150 national partners and has participated in over 350 applied engineering projects in the last five years, advancing product commercialization, economic impact, and workforce development.

CDME Capabilities

Our projects bring ideas and foundational science into industry practice. We're the manufacturing port of entry into Ohio State — bringing together researchers, faculty, industry professionals, government representatives, and students to solve problems, improve operations, and develop new technologies.

Each project at CDME is assigned a project manager and follows a New Product Introduction (NPI) model. This industry-tested method supports task and gated models, providing clear deliverables with project plans and deadlines for completion.

The center employs two dozen industry hardened experts with over 425 years of combined engineering experience. With access to more than $12 million in manufacturing equipment, engineers are capable of advancing projects involving:

Additive manufacturing (metal, ceramic, polymer)
Robotics
Welding
Materials
Joining
Assembly
CNC and machining
Biomedical and biomechanical devices
Cybersecurity
Artificial intelligence and machine learning manufacturing applications
System design
Sensing
Automation
Injection molding
Composites
Die casting
Stamping and forming
Testing and characterization
Simulation
Electrical and controls

A majority of CDME work targets the aerospace and defense industries. CDME operates an ITAR-compliant manufacturing facility and can administer projects for the U.S. Department of Defense.

Fostering entrepreneurship through community engagement.

Growth, Development, and Innovation, those are the goals of GDI Partners. Their strategy is simple, connect the dots between need and opportunity to bring prosperity to the communities and businesses served. Whether it’s organizing TRIAD events to showcase innovators to federal agencies or acting as a trusted resource in the development of a new plan for growth, GDI is there. They're your partners for long term success.

GDI Partners forms collaborative partnerships with communities, local governments, and economic development organizations to identify ecosystem gaps, align existing assets, and provide resources that support company growth, innovation, and job creation.

The Technology Requirements & Innovation Awareness Days (TRIAD) Program offers companies an opportunity to improve communication with the Department of Defense (DoD), make personal connections to DoD Science & Technology (S&T) Scouts, and increase the exposure of their innovations to a broad network of federal decision-makers and buyers.

As the SBRD Program continues to grow, we've developed a new resource that will be available to all SBRD applicants. The SBRD Student Partnership Program is comprised of dedicated marketing and engineering students from Ohio State. These students will collaborate with applicants to further support the growth and visibility of their products and companies.

SBRD Student Partnership Program Overview

Objective
Students will keep applicants informed and involved with the SBRD Program, so their products stay connected with Ohio State and the U.S. Department of Defense.

Increase Visibility
Students will collaborate with applicants to share information about their companies and products on the CDME website, including:

A technical brief
A sketch of the submitted product
Links to the applicant's website and marketing materials

Stay Connected
A designated CDME student representative will work with applicants to:

Develop and finalize the website material
Inform applicants of funding opportunities
Provide additional resources

Criteria for Selection

When the application window is open, the DOD Supply Base Resilience and Diversification Program is accessible to individuals and businesses who meet the following criteria:

Small companies and startups submitting must have under 100 employees
The submitter must have a clear connection to the state of Ohio (offices, manufacturing, services, or operations). An Ohio mailing address will be requested.
The invention should have or be eligible to receive a U.S. Patent.
- CDME will perform applied engineering to complete the MVP. We will not create intellectual property.
The inventor must be a U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident.
Submitted projects should fit CDME capabilities to result in a prototype or minimally viable product (MVP).
The estimated CDME labor cost award value of MVP development will be approximately $50,000 and five months in duration using CDME engineering resources. The submitter will be required to supply a 10% cash cost share plus materials.
- Larger projects will be considered but need to be compelling.
- Before work begins, a detailed, fixed-price project scope-of-work with expected deliverables, costs, and timelines will be presented to the inventor by CDME. CDME will implement the project. The grant will cover the labor for CDME personnel at no cost to the inventor.
  - The inventor will pay the costs of all materials (scope provided by CDME).
- The invention must have a military application — either combat or non-combat use. CDME engineers and representatives from the U.S. Department of Defense will select dual-use technologies that support the defense mission.

The third-round application window has closed. Businesses and inventors interested in receiving ongoing announcements related to the SBRD program can opt-in to receive email updates.