Metro State University recently welcomed innovators, entrepreneurs, researchers, and students for “Defense Contracting 101,” an event designed to help Minnesota’s technology community better understand how to engage with the federal defense ecosystem.
Hosted in partnership with the Minnesota National Security Ecosystem and the Defense Innovation OnRamp Hub: Minnesota, the event provided an introduction to the defense acquisition landscape and highlighted pathways for startups and emerging technologies to collaborate with the United States Department of Defense.
The afternoon program drew a strong turnout from across Minnesota’s innovation community. Participants heard presentations and joined a panel discussion focused on Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) opportunities, federal funding mechanisms, and strategies for bringing dual-use technologies—those with both commercial and national security applications—to the defense market.
Speakers and panelists included John Kruse, Chip Laingen, Matthew Hickey, Pat Dillon, and Jeff Phillips, who shared insights from their experiences working with defense innovation programs, federal contracting, and emerging technology ventures.
The discussion sparked thoughtful questions from attendees and continued into networking sessions before and after the program, where founders, industry leaders, and students connected around shared interests in national security innovation.
“Events like Defense Contracting 101 demonstrate how universities can serve as catalysts for innovation and collaboration,” said Dr. Faisal Kaleem, director of Cyber and executive director of the MSAII at Metro State. “By bringing together entrepreneurs, researchers, and national security partners, we are helping Minnesota’s innovation ecosystem better understand how emerging technologies can contribute to national defense while creating meaningful opportunities for startups and students.”
Organizers noted that the strong participation reflects growing interest across Minnesota in defense technology, dual-use innovation, and federal research partnerships.
Metro State and its partners plan to continue building momentum through future programs that support organizations exploring opportunities in defense innovation and federal research funding.
The event highlights Metro State’s ongoing role in connecting academic expertise, industry innovation, and national security priorities—helping ensure Minnesota’s technology community remains engaged in shaping the future of defense innovation.