With defense technology constantly evolving, the military services are looking to accelerate the discovery, development and deployment of emerging technologies. The Army launched its FUZE innovation engine last fall to fund promising technologies and move cutting-edge capabilities from prototype to operational use faster.

Matthew Willis, FUZE director, said the program aligns with the Pentagon's broader push to accelerate technology adoption and modernize defense acquisition. Willis explained that FUZE consolidates several previously disconnected Army innovation efforts and overlays them with a venture-capital-style investment model.

FUZE, Willis said, operates more like a Silicon Valley firm, taking calculated risks early, making multiple small investments, scaling successful technologies and quickly divesting from those that do not deliver results. Willis added that the Army must embrace risk tolerance, make "big bets" on the most critical capabilities and avoid spreading resources too thin.