Defense Innovation

With rapid technological advancement and transition so crucial to national security, the NCMBC plays a pivotal role in bridging the gap between North Carolina innovators and Defense and Homeland Security agencies.  The NCMBC engages North Carolina industry- and academia-based research and development (R&D) entities, grows federal and DoD involvement, and provides outreach, partnering and business assistance services to innovators in the defense innovation ecosystem.    

NCMBC serves agencies and businesses in the innovation ecosystem by:

  • Scouting the state for breakthrough technologies 
  • Coaching industry to identify defense applications
  • Communicating federal technology needs
  • Positioning businesses to meet requirements
  • Engaging NC innovators with federal customers 
  • Conducting emerging technology forums
  • Serving as the North Carolina liaison to DoD and federal innovation offices

Strategic Initiatives. In addition to technology scouting, the defense technologies  team conducts several strategic initiatives. These include:

  • Partnerships with industry and academia – growing the innovation (R&D) ecosystem
  • Market intelligence – tech scouting and identification of future opportunities
  • Training and resources – providing knowledge-based resources to support technology transition
  • Events and Networking – focused on target sectors including cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, big data, autonomous systems, energy, and power technologies

NCMBC is a unique combat multiplier that leverages industrial capacity statewide and drives private sector innovation, research and development directly to DoD, federal agencies and major military commands worldwide.

Opps Talk is a virtual forum spotlighting key federal R&D opportunities for North Carolina’s innovation ecosystem. Each session features timely, high-impact solicitations from agencies like DoD, DOE, DHS, and others — including SBIR/STTR topics, BAAs, and significant announcements. Designed to keep innovators informed and engaged, Opps Talk connects businesses, researchers, and partners with the federal R&D infrastructure in a fast, focused format — helping turn opportunity into action. To review the next opps talk sessions visit the calendar on the NCMBC homepage. 

Technology and Innovation Discovery Evaluation (TIDE) program is North Carolina’s technology scouting program. The purpose of TIDE is to:

  • Discover – Explore companies within our ecosystem that have new technologies and innovations that can help to fill the gaps and needs of our federal agencies.
  • Educate – The NCMBC provides education to companies on the benefits of applying their technology and innovation to government and defense challenges. This includes educational support through webinars and seminars on Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) programs, Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs, sharing relevant opportunities from Federal Agencies, and by joining our ecosystem of innovators for collaboration and shared knowledge.
  • Encourage – TIDE encourages companies to apply for federal research and development (R&D) funding to advance and commercialize their new technology and innovation. NCMBC is a conduit to all the federal and state resources available to assist you in submitting your SBIR or STTR.
  • Assist – NCMBC assists companies to match their technology and innovation to established areas of concern to DoD and other federal agencies. The TIDE program provides assistance to companies in formatting information to meet federal standards and translating solutions into government language.

TIDE Program helps businesses to secure R&D funding and government contracts by:

  • Promoting opportunities
  • Connecting businesses with resources to submit winning proposals
  • Providing platforms for presenting technology and innovation ideas to government officials 

For more information contact: Bob Burton, Director of Defense Technologies at burtonr@ncmbc.us.