§3034c Intelligence Community Innovation Unit

Summary

The Director of National Intelligence must make a plan within 180 days after December 22, 2023 for creating an Intelligence Community Innovation Unit. The plan must explain how the Unit will help find commercial emerging technologies (as defined in section 6701 of the FY2023 Intelligence Authorization Act), give technical help to intelligence agencies, move prototypes into production, and act as a link to the private sector with a focus on small- and medium-sized companies. The plan must limit the Unit to no more than 50 full-time equivalent positions, include an assessment of its benefits, and be sent to the congressional intelligence committees and the Defense Appropriations subcommittees with a briefing. If Congress provides the money, the Director must set up the Unit within 180 days after sending the plan. The Unit must not stop any agency from doing its authorized work. The Director of the Unit is chosen by the Director of National Intelligence, reports to that Director, and should preferably have private-sector emerging-technology experience and a track record of adoption. The Unit will have up to 50 staff with skills in rapid acquisition, working with small and medium companies, and intelligence mission needs. Agencies may detail staff to the Unit. The Unit must move proven prototypes into production when there is a clear mission need and a likely partner, including by using the Emerging Technology Transition Projects pilot under section 6713 of the FY2023 Act. The Unit gets no new authorities beyond those the Director already has, must not force special treatment for private firms, and its authorities end 5 years after the Unit is set up.