About The FORGE at UC San Diego

The FORGE at UC San Diego is the university’s cross-sector dual-use initiative advancing U.S. national security and global resilience through innovation, talent development, and strategic collaboration. We unite research excellence, entrepreneurial drive, and mission-oriented partnerships to solve high-stakes challenges across the defense, intelligence, and homeland security spectrum.

The FORGE at UC San Diego bridges the gap between academia and real-world national security impact from hypersonics and autonomous systems to cyber, biotech, health, and maritime operations. We commercialize dual-use technologies, nurture mission-ready leaders, and accelerate the development of new capabilities to meet emerging threats, ensuring that critical ideas gain traction and drive transformation.

Our Approach

As part of The FORGE at UC San Diego, our national security initiatives are strategically designed to strengthen the entire ecosystem, fostering a dynamic environment where groundbreaking ideas translate into tangible impact. 

GOAL #1: Strengthen Our Ecosystem

We cultivate strong, enduring multidisciplinary connections between researchers, federal agencies, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders, both across the UC San Diego campus and between the university and the National Security and private sectors—building a dynamic network that drives innovation and accelerates impact.

GOAL #2: Advance Campus Innovation Pipelines 

UC San Diego is a national leader in translating research into solutions that matter, especially in areas of strategic importance to the United States. With growing focus and investment in space systems, autonomous technologies, maritime innovation, artificial intelligence (AI), human performance, health, advanced materials, and cyber-physical resilience, our campus is becoming a launchpad for the next generation of mission-ready capabilities.

GOAL #3: Develop Tomorrow’s Leaders

We prepare mission-ready talent through nationally recognized STEM programs, providing students and professionals with real-world entrepreneurial, policy and technical experience essential for the national security workforce. Our deep engagement with professional and defense industrial associations ensures alignment with evolving mission needs and expands high-impact career pathways.

GOAL #4: Unify Policy, Strategy and Communication

We foster clear communication and effective governance to address complex national security challenges—aligning stakeholders through coordinated expertise and shared strategic vision.