The Defense Technology Initiative (DTI), born from the region's successful 2005 Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) efforts, is currently working to develop a sustainable New England strategy that will both strengthen the region's defense technology cluster and provide specific business opportunities for its members. In recent years it has become apparent that DTI's mission has become more critical than ever.

New England possesses one of the world's most diverse defense technology ecosystems, but changing political, economic and fiscal dynamics are threatening to hinder the region's growth potential and ability to develop the next generation of defense technology. Significant Pentagon force reductions are already underway and rumblings about a new BRAC, likely in 2015, have started to grow louder. And other military states and regions have been working in a more coordinated - and political - fashion to pursue Pentagon and DHS contracts, as well as base expansion.

A key component of DTI's strategy will accelerate the capacity to connect successful new technology enterprises with federal government and private technology firms in a tangible way via our flagship innovation: the Innovation Access Network (IAN).

IAN (www.innovationaccess.org) is a holistic approach that empowers established and entrepreneurial technology providers, from New England and around the globe, to securely and efficiently share their innovations and ideas with prime contractors, government agencies, research laboratories, universities, and enterprise corporations to create new business connections and collaboration around critical innovations.