I am torn as to how I feel about this article. While I agree that Canada should be trying to promote startups every chance they have, we are doing big things right now and startups are not going to be chosen as Primes. They just aren't. Should DND be seeking out capabilities with startups and trying to innovate and help them with exposure and getting innovative products in return. Sure. But in all of this I did not get a sense of a solution. Government procedures are slow, color me shocked. What does Omar suggest, other than not liking the way things are. Sorry to say it but, partner with a larger Prime who will allow you to be fast and flexible and grow. Not sure what you want? Maybe I read more into this than was there, I will give it a couple days and revist.
1. tie R&D initiatives like IDeAS to actual contracting mechanisms, with Minor Capital Equipment procurements (as a minimum) as an outcome for winning/successful innovators. Would help scale up many SMEs offering in demand technologies.
2. Increase Mjnor Capital procurement authorities (not just for ADM(Mat), but increased authorities to L1s & L2 formations...) MCEs can still be long to deliver, but they operate on a time scale that many smaller /startup companies can actually fathom, rather than major capital projects that might be on the books for a decade or more before contract.
3. While the big purchases & equipment framework can stay centralised, MCEs & greater prourement devolution to formations (like the Defence division) can allow formations to more rapidly procure & adopt smaller quantities of interesting/promising technologies that meet their more immediate & specific needs. This would also help startups & SMEs.
I agree Mark. I do not think we can blame the ITB framework even if for most of it we get industry activity rather than industry giant. The activity still pays a lot of bills and we still get lots of high value skills. However the path of going from startup to industry leader will only ever happen through programs like IDeAS and DIANA. Startups need to interact with DND R&D programs, see what they are looking for, see where they can carve out a niche and if all goes well sell to the world and grow. I can't tell you the number of times I looked at a startups cool technology and gone, that is awesome, but who is asking for this. Sometimes COOL does not translate to marketable. We need R&D programs backing emerging technology startups and placing small orders to help move it along, but only if it makes sense or can see a glimpse of light down the long tunnel of development.
I am torn as to how I feel about this article. While I agree that Canada should be trying to promote startups every chance they have, we are doing big things right now and startups are not going to be chosen as Primes. They just aren't. Should DND be seeking out capabilities with startups and trying to innovate and help them with exposure and getting innovative products in return. Sure. But in all of this I did not get a sense of a solution. Government procedures are slow, color me shocked. What does Omar suggest, other than not liking the way things are. Sorry to say it but, partner with a larger Prime who will allow you to be fast and flexible and grow. Not sure what you want? Maybe I read more into this than was there, I will give it a couple days and revist.
A couple things that could be done:
1. tie R&D initiatives like IDeAS to actual contracting mechanisms, with Minor Capital Equipment procurements (as a minimum) as an outcome for winning/successful innovators. Would help scale up many SMEs offering in demand technologies.
2. Increase Mjnor Capital procurement authorities (not just for ADM(Mat), but increased authorities to L1s & L2 formations...) MCEs can still be long to deliver, but they operate on a time scale that many smaller /startup companies can actually fathom, rather than major capital projects that might be on the books for a decade or more before contract.
3. While the big purchases & equipment framework can stay centralised, MCEs & greater prourement devolution to formations (like the Defence division) can allow formations to more rapidly procure & adopt smaller quantities of interesting/promising technologies that meet their more immediate & specific needs. This would also help startups & SMEs.
I agree Mark. I do not think we can blame the ITB framework even if for most of it we get industry activity rather than industry giant. The activity still pays a lot of bills and we still get lots of high value skills. However the path of going from startup to industry leader will only ever happen through programs like IDeAS and DIANA. Startups need to interact with DND R&D programs, see what they are looking for, see where they can carve out a niche and if all goes well sell to the world and grow. I can't tell you the number of times I looked at a startups cool technology and gone, that is awesome, but who is asking for this. Sometimes COOL does not translate to marketable. We need R&D programs backing emerging technology startups and placing small orders to help move it along, but only if it makes sense or can see a glimpse of light down the long tunnel of development.