Philip Harvey’s Post

The Military Industrial Complex, plus the Academic part...

If there is one thing the Chinese Communist Party and American security hawks agree on, it is that #innovation is the key to maintaining political, economic, and military supremacy. The rise of #Chinese science is self-evident. #Science flourishes when scientists collaborate; segregation is the enemy of progress. When science fails, society fails. We need #openness and regulatory agreements for the protection of commercial innovation. You can have the most advanced kits and facilities including AI but it is human capital that is the most valuable creative resource. Hardware without software goes nowhere. Here is what The Economist has to say:

The Theory of Inventive Problem Solving, better known by its Russian acronym TRIZ, is a systematic approach developed in the mid-20th century by Soviet engineer and researcher Genrich Altshuller and his colleagues. It is predicated on the principle that the evolution of systems follows certain patterns and that by understanding these patterns, one can predict and solve problems creatively and efficiently. TRIZ offers a structured framework for innovation, enabling practitioners to generate breakthrough solutions for complex problems across various industries. #TRIZ #InnovationManagement https://wix.to/hVfEyTx

📣 Attention Canadian Innovators: Are you ready to showcase your cutting-edge technology solutions to the world? The U.S. Army invites you to join us for the xTechInternational 2024 competition! What is xTechInternational?     It's your chance to shine in front of the U.S. Department of Defense with your breakthrough innovations in AI for Intelligence and Decision-Making Applications, Quantum Sensing, and more.    We are seeking participation from Canadian small to medium businesses, as well as academic and research institutions. This is not just a competition; it's a platform for collaboration and advancement in the realm of defense technology. Why participate?    Beyond the opportunity to showcase your solutions, participants stand to win prize money and potentially embark on an accelerator program to further develop and scale their innovations.    To learn more and to submit your application visit: https://lnkd.in/eRbQid2T    #xTechInternational #Innovation #DefenseTechnology #AI #QuantumSensing #IndigenousMaterialsForward #GlobalCollaboration 

"Innovators cause systemic change, and those impacted by that change must adapt in a reactive, secondary and often costly fashion. Innovation cannot be predicted, nor can it be programmed into set patterns of behaviour or indoctrinated. Unlike adaptation, where the institution often understands and encourages the changes as they are implemented, innovation is conducted outside the mainstream. Innovation is frequently conducted in such a way that the institutional defenders resist innovation until such time as the innovation is over, and the system is clearly transforming so that ignoring the innovation will only cause further damage and disruption. There are myriad military examples of innovation, from the rise of air power, the development of the tank, the creation of the aircraft carrier, or the restoration of mounted animals for reconnaissance and special operations in Afghanistan after the September 11, 2001 attacks.[3] In many historical examples (if not all), the institution resisted innovation quite fiercely. Additionally, one must not associate innovation exclusively with technological superiority, supposedly sophisticated societies, or formalised education and professionalisation in war. James Mrazek argues throughout his publications on military creativity that ‘good fighters have not always been the most extensively trained, but rather the most ingenious in intellectual quality’ (Mrazek, 1968, p. 141). Mrazek goes on to quote Chinese revolutionary Lin Biao[4] who, in reflecting on the Russian and subsequent Chinese civil wars, observed that amateurs ‘never trained at any military school [yet] have eventually defeated professional graduates from military academies’ (Mrazek, 1968, p. 141). This pattern extends from Lenin’s communist revolution in the early 20th century into the 21st century, with the Taliban in 2021 rapidly claiming Kabul and demonstrating once more that innovation is available to everyone in war to wage effectively, particularly where low-technology or unorthodox militaries defeat highly professionalised, well-resourced ones.[5]" More at: https://lnkd.in/gfwhK7Cy #design #strategy #innovation #military #ai #technology #defense #NATO #leadership #coaching #change #complexity #facilitation

The U.S. Army xTech Program is now accepting concept white papers for the xTechInternational competition and awarding up to $500,000 in cash prizes!  The xTechInternational competition is a forum for eligible international small to medium businesses and international academic and research institutions to pitch novel technology solutions directly to the U.S. Department of Defense with a focus on AI for Intelligence and Decision-Making Applications, Quantum Sensing and Materials, and Indigenous Forward Materials. In addition to cash prizes, the competition will offer additional key benefits including:  Operationally relevant and technical feedback from DOD experts and international defense experts;  Direct access and exposure to key stakeholders; and  Intensive mentorship and educational programming through the xTech Accelerator. Concept white paper submissions must be received by 13:00 GMT on March 7, 2024. For more information on the competition's topics and problem statements and how to participate, please visit the xTechInternational competition page at https://lnkd.in/eKqF78Ue. Also, mark your calendars to join us at 13:00 GMT on 22 February for an Informational Webinar. Additional details will be posted to the competition page by 9 February. Please share this information with others who may be interested in applying. We look forward to receiving your submission! The xTechInternational competition is sponsored by the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army (Acquisition, Logistics and Technology) (ASA(ALT)), in collaboration with the U.S. Army Futures Command (AFC), U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (DEVCOM) and the U.S. Office of Naval Research Global (ONR-G). V/R, Army xTech Program Small business igniting big innovation

ERIC SCHMIDT @ericschmidt, Chair of the Special Competitive Studies Project (https://www.scsp.ai) and former CEO and Chair of Google, co-authors with the late Henry Kissinger and Daniel Huttenlocher in The Age of AI: And Our Human Future (https://lnkd.in/d__Yc8G4),  explains in @ForeignAffairs that in a world where the battleground encompasses not only physical land but also the realm of innovation, Ukraine's response to Russian advances underscores the profound influence technology wields on geopolitics. This unfolding narrative is of global significance. He further explains that the contest for technological supremacy, notably between major players such as the U.S. and China, transcends mere accolades. It is intricately linked to shaping forthcoming economic terrains, defense strategies, and international diplomacy. With AI and quantum computing as transformative forces, the pursuit of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) is not solely a scientific pursuit—it represents a pivotal strategic shift crucial to national security and global standing. He concludes that despite U.S. leadership in innovation, China is narrowing the gap, excelling across various cutting-edge domains and showcasing substantial advancements. To maintain a competitive edge, the U.S. must intensify its focus on critical technologies, recalibrate defense policies, and champion innovation on a grand scale. How do future geopolitical landscapes appear shaped by technology in your perspective? Kindly share your insights below to enrich this discussion. #GlobalSecurity #GulfSecurity #GeopoliticalTrends #FutureTech #GlobalAffairs #USChinaRivalry #TechnoGeopolitics #DefenceIndustry #USChinaRelations Engage with a thoughtful comment or statement related to the topic to add depth and encourage interaction. https://lnkd.in/dE-6HNzp

"Innovative acts are cognitive leaps in conceptualising fantastic and weird ideas so that opportunities are made available via novel and previously unimagined or ignored ways. Acts of innovation change the system. A successful experimentation involving novelty creates systemic transformation where competitors now must operate in the emergent system that the innovation ushered into reality. In this second paper in a four-part series, we discuss innovation through the lens of military forces and war paradigms to understand how militaries are mostly inhibitive of innovation, especially in new warfighting domains. Traditional mechanistic thinking for militaries seems to inhibit innovation in areas of entirely unfamiliar or emerging war contexts that depart from legacy frames. These include cyberspace, cislunar space, artificial intelligence at the general or advanced levels of development, quantum or other exotic technology, and multi-domain conflicts where different belief systems (social paradigms) on war are used by different stakeholders. Generally, convergent thinking is promoted by military organisations at the expense of seriously entertaining transformative and disruptive ideas. We tend to shun innovative risk, preferring a slower and more painful process of adaptation in complex war. New ideas are only useful if they reinforce our current belief system, and reinforce our legacy system of established rituals, doctrines and institutionalised behaviours." Want more? Check out this article at Contemporary Issues in Air & Space Power Journal, out now: https://lnkd.in/gfwhK7Cy #design #innovation #machinelearning #ai #artificialintelligence #technology #space #spaceforce #socom #military #defense #security #strategy #leadership #education #complexity #NATO #ukraine #army

"Innovation is important, necessary, and whether one invents the necessary change or one is dragged there by a cunning adversary through defeat and disruption, such innovation always occurs in war. However, militaries that unwittingly adhere to their particular war paradigm are institutionalised into rejecting many acts of innovation that are not immediately recognisable and able to integrate seamlessly with existing legacy constructs. Instead, in often a blatant showing of anti-intellectualism for any war theory outside the approved, organisationally relevant war paradigm in practice, militaries also show outright hostility and contempt for creative war thinking that threatens disruption, change and painful introspection, especially within established training institutions and doctrinal publications. This is a damning statement, but one that is fairly easy to demonstrate repeatedly across military services through how methods, doctrine and belief systems demand orthodoxy and adherence to the institutional framework  above all else." Read more at the Australian Defense Forces' Contemporary Issues in Air and Space Power Journal. My new article is titled "Why do Militaries Stifle New Ideas" and the PDF link is below (and free): https://lnkd.in/gSGQNH3Z #design #innovation #strategy #leadership #learning #creativity #complexity #change #leadershipdevelopment #army #marines #navy #space #spaceforce #socom #specialoperations #airforce #NATO

Embracing the "Fantastic and Weird" is beneficial for driving innovation in new operating domains. New operating domains, such as space and cyberspace, are characterized by rapid technological advancements and evolving threats. Traditional approaches and established technologies may not be sufficient to address these challenges. In rapidly evolving environments, organizations that can adapt and innovate quickly gain a significant competitive advantage. By exploring unconventional ideas and fostering a culture of imagination, individuals and organizations can stay ahead of the curve and develop disruptive technologies that can provide a decisive edge. New operating domains are inherently uncertain and unpredictable. By embracing the "fantastic and weird," individuals and organizations can develop a mindset that is comfortable with uncertainty and willing to adapt to changing circumstances.