How DARPA Attacks Problems

The DARPA Model: Unconventional Speed, Efficiency, and Effectiveness in Innovation

The Unparalleled Track Record of DARPA

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has a 50-plus year history of radical invention, producing breakthroughs that have transformed industries and society. From the internet to global positioning satellites, stealth technology to MEMS, and carbon composites, DARPA’s advances are used in everything from smartphones to sporting equipment to artificial limbs. The agency’s role in creating multibillion-dollar industries is undeniable.

The DARPA Model: Three Critical Elements

Two former DARPA leaders, now heading an advanced research group at Google, have decoded the DARPA model and explain how it can be adapted for the private sector. The model consists of three mutually reinforcing elements:

Ambitious Goals

Projects are designed to push the boundaries of science to solve urgent real-world problems or create new opportunities.

Temporary Project Teams

DARPA contracts world-class experts from industry and academia to work on projects with relatively short durations. These projects are led by about 100 technical managers who have been brought in for fixed terms.

Independence

By charter, DARPA has autonomy in selecting and executing projects. Its model also challenges assumptions about how personnel are hired, and how contracting and intellectual property are managed. This independence allows the organization to move fast and take bold risks, and helps it persuade the best and the brightest to join it.

Conclusion

The DARPA model offers a unique approach to innovation, one that combines ambitious goals, temporary project teams, and independence. By adopting this model, private sector organizations can unlock new levels of speed, efficiency, and effectiveness in their own innovation efforts.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How does DARPA’s model differ from traditional research and development approaches?
A: DARPA’s model is characterized by its unconventional speed, efficiency, and effectiveness, with projects lasting only three to five years and a relatively small organization size.

Q: How does DARPA’s independence contribute to its success?
A: DARPA’s autonomy allows it to move quickly and take bold risks, and helps it attract top talent.

Q: Can the DARPA model be adapted for use in the private sector?
A: Yes, by adopting similar approaches to goal-setting, team composition, and independence, private sector organizations can unlock new levels of innovation.