The US Office of Naval Research (ONR) has released a new Science and Technology Strategy outlining how it plans to prioritize research and accelerate the delivery of new technologies to the US Navy and Marine Corps.
It aims to improve how ONR selects research projects, allocates funding, and transitions technologies from the laboratory to operational use.
Under the strategy, ONR will place greater emphasis on research areas where commercial industry is unlikely to develop solutions independently, focusing instead on capabilities unique to naval operations.
AI is expected to accelerate scientific discovery and shorten research timelines, provided it is appropriately validated and overseen.
At the same time, the initiative seeks to speed the transition of technologies from research to operational use by requiring clearer transition plans for every program and strengthening coordination with acquisition organizations and operational commands.
“In this important moment in time, we have embarked on a journey to refine how we do every part of our business — to make transparent what we are solving for, what bets we will place across our portfolio, and how we will measure whether and how they have paid off,” said Chief of Naval Research, Dr. Rachel Riley.
Focus on Faster Technology Transition
A central element of the strategy is a framework called “FEED at Speed.”
It focuses investments on high-impact naval technologies and seeks to improve coordination among researchers, military operators, policymakers, industry, and academia.
Success will be measured by technologies that transition to operational use rather than remaining laboratory demonstrations.
The strategy also targets the so-called “Valley of Death,” the gap where many defense technologies fail to progress from successful prototypes to procurement and fielding.
To address this, ONR plans to work more closely with acquisition organizations, operational commands, and private-sector partners, including through dedicated industry engagement events.
