Mission and History

Established by the Massachusetts High Technology Council in 2003, the Defense Technology Initiative (DTI) promotes job creation and growth opportunities for technology businesses and universities in the New England defense sector. In collaboration with active support and input from members of its regional Advisory Board, DTI is building on its success in leading the region’s strategy in support of Hanscom AFB and the US Army Natick Solider Systems Center in the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure process.

Regional Defense Strategy

DTI has developed a sustainable New England strategy that will both strengthen the region’s defense technology cluster and provide specific business opportunities for its members. In recent years it has become apparent that DTI’s mission has become more critical than ever.

New England possesses one of the world’s most diverse defense technology ecosystems, but changing political, economic and fiscal dynamics are threatening to hinder the region’s growth potential and ability to develop the next generation of defense technology. Significant Pentagon force reductions are already underway and rumblings about a new BRAC, likely in 2015, have started to grow louder. And other military states and regions have been working in a more coordinated – and political - fashion to pursue Pentagon and DHS contracts, as well as base expansion.

For these reasons, DTI is working with federal and state elected officials to coalesce our region’s defense technology assets around a coordinated strategy.