Defense Hardtech Accelerator

The Defense Hardtech Accelerator provides support and resources to companies with promising solutions for both military and commercial applications. Its mission is to rapidly advance the technical maturity of these innovations and initiate domestic manufacturing, addressing critical national security needs and bridging supply chain gaps essential for U.S. resilience. Through expert mentorship, funding, and access to prototyping and manufacturing support, the program helps transform innovative concepts into market-ready solutions. It is a collaboration with the U.S. Army DEVCOM Ground Vehicle Systems Center, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, the Michigan Defense Resiliency Consortium, Munro Defense, the University of Michigan and Lawrence Technological University.

Key Benefits

• Business Development: access to tailored business strategies and market connections to facilitate defense and commercial growth
• Product Demonstration: opportunities for showcasing innovations to key defense and industry stakeholders
• Accelerate Time to Market: resources and guidance that streamline the development and launch processes
• Defense Requirements Support: access to resources and guidance on meeting defense industry standards, including cybersecurity and quality requirements
• Financial Assistance: eligibility for up to $250,000 in pilot funding to support high-potential projects
• Engineering Assistance: technical expertise to optimize product design, performance, and manufacturability
• Prototyping: access to state-of-the-art facilities and expert-led prototyping support
• Marketing: strategic support for positioning and promoting products in both defense and broader commercial sectors

Eligibility

• Hardware Readiness: solutions must be in the proof-of-concept stage, with functional hardware that can be tested and validated
• Defense Alignment: products should meet or address current Department of Defense technology needs, particularly in the areas of combat vehicles, tactical drones, and critical supply chain components
• Industry Applicability: solutions with potential for applications across multiple industries, not limited to defense, are prioritized
• Established Customer Interest: companies should demonstrate current or potential demand through customer interest or existing partnerships

Program Structure

• Access to Expertise: over 40 Experts-in-Residence across product design, engineering, supply chain, and business strategy
• Technical and Strategic Resources: facilities and support for prototyping, tooling, IP guidance, and regulatory navigation
• Industry Partnerships: key defense and industry stakeholders, including Ground Vehicle Systems Center, for access to government resources, testing grounds, and potential customer bases
• Market Expansion: strategic marketing and sales support for defense and commercial markets
• Rolling applications through the Centrepolis Accelerator Application Portal; submissions are reviewed on a weekly basis