What DARPA does
DARPA (the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) is an independent research and development agency within the U.S. Department of Defense. Its mission is to create and prevent technological surprise for U.S. national security, pursuing transformational breakthroughs through high-risk, high-reward R&D rather than incremental advances. DARPA organizes its work around six technical offices that sponsor fixed-term programs, challenges, “seedlings,” explorations, initiatives, and technology transition activities—often pairing performer teams (conducting research) with transition partners (implementation, technology transfer, and commercialization). DARPA also emphasizes scientific exchange for fundamental research and uses a variety of contracting and funding approaches (including challenges with prizes, and SBIR/STTR initiatives) to engage innovators across academia, industry, and government.