UC San Diego Launches the FORGE to Power a New Era of National Security Innovation

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As University of California San Diego moves to better connect campus breakthroughs with urgent national security and civilian needs, the university has launched the FORGE, a new initiative designed to align defense priorities with the researchers, startups and partners best positioned to deliver practical solutions.

That momentum comes as the United States faces intensifying global competition and rapidly evolving security challenges — and as the federal government reshapes how it discovers, funds and deploys innovation. Agencies like the Department of Defense are recognizing that the next breakthroughs may not come from traditional defense channels, according to a 2025 Congressional Research Service report. Yet many UC San Diego innovators face difficult structural and institutional barriers to solving real-world problems.

The FORGE, or Future Operations Research and Global Expertise, is the university’s newest campus-wide enterprise, accelerating the development of dual-use technologies and creating an innovation workforce for both national security and civilian markets. It creates structured pathways for participants to engage in mission-driven innovation that not only drives critical technologies, but still produces a positive global impact.

“UC San Diego has long been committed to advancing knowledge in service of the public good,” said Chancellor Pradeep K. Khosla. “The FORGE strengthens that mission by channeling our research and innovation capabilities to tackle some of the most important challenges facing our nation. It reflects an evolving focus at the university—working more closely with national security partners while staying true to our commitment to academic excellence and societal benefit.”

Inside the innovation engine — accelerating dual-use innovation

Developed under the university’s Office of Innovation and Commercialization, the FORGE intertwines three critical elements into a single, integrated structure: research-to-operator pathways, adaptive innovation workforce development and a robust partnership ecosystem. Together, these components are designed to accelerate technology development for both national security and civilian needs — while building the workforce capable of driving both.

The FORGE emphasizes dual-use innovation — technologies that serve both civilian and defense applications. Today’s critical challenges cut across sectors and missions — from climate resilience and healthcare to advanced materials, cybersecurity and autonomous systems. By supporting solutions that move fluidly between commercial and defense contexts, the FORGE ensures university research not only advances understanding, but also delivers capabilities that bolster security, economic competitiveness and global well-being.

A national shift — and a regional opportunity

The launch of the FORGE comes at a moment when the stakes of innovation have never been higher. As competitor nations accelerate their investments in advanced technologies, the United States is under pressure not just to innovate — but to innovate faster, more collaboratively and with greater impact. San Diego is uniquely poised to lead this next chapter.

“San Diego has all the building blocks to become the nation’s national security innovation hub — the highest concentration of military assets in the world, an entrepreneurial culture with increasing availability of venture capital, a vibrant defense industry and UC San Diego’s vast research capabilities in security-relevant areas along with significant investment in innovation. This innovation enterprise will harness all of these strengths to fully realize this enormous opportunity for the region,” said Associate Vice Chancellor Paul Roben of Innovation and Commercialization. “The FORGE provides the mentorship, resources, and pathways to make that possible — serving as our bridge to the future.”

Programs that move ideas into the world

At the heart of The FORGE are programs that offer immersive experiences and targeted support to move UC San Diego research and innovation toward field-ready advancements:

• Accelerating Innovations to Market – National Security (AIM‑NS) provides funding, mentorship, and commercialization guidance to help dual-use technologies progress from lab concepts to deployment, with the latest award cycle expanding support for startup growth.

• Innovating for National Security (i4NS) engages interdisciplinary student teams in a quarter-long internship working directly with Department of Defense partners to develop user-centered solutions to complex defense challenges.

• Naval Power Workshop introduces participants to modern naval operations over several days, fostering understanding and stimulating innovation relevant to naval and defense systems.

• Working With Government (WWG) Workshop helps innovators navigate government structures, engagement, and funding pathways, using the Department of Defense as a case study.

“For many people, the challenge isn’t interest — it’s access,” said Rachel Costello, launch lead for the FORGE. “This initiative meets students, researchers and startups where they are and opens the door to their potential in national security. Our goal is to help everyone discover what they’re capable of — to see the difference their work can make, whether in the lab, the marketplace, or the broader world.”

As the FORGE begins its work to catalyze a national sea change, UC San Diego continues to expand its role as a global hub where research excellence, innovation, entrepreneurship and public service converge — preparing the next generation of thinkers, builders and innovators to meet the challenges of a rapidly changing world.

Learn more about The Forge and its programs.