Event Summary
QLab’s fifth session focused on how the U.S. government funds, organizes, and carries out basic research, and what that system looks like from the inside. Eric Evans of MIT Lincoln Laboratory, Heidi Shyu, and Brian Pierce walked through the major institutions that shape federal R&D and explained how broad priorities turn into actual programs.
A big point from the conversation was that the federal research world is not one single system. Different organizations play different roles. Some are focused on early-stage science, some help move research toward prototypes, and others help bridge the gap to transition and adoption. For founders and researchers, that matters because where your work fits in the pipeline affects the timeline, the incentives, and even how success is measured.
The panel also got into practical ways to engage with the government, including grants, consortia, CRADAs, and pilot programs. The main takeaway for QLab teams was that this ecosystem can be understood and navigated, but it rewards people who do their homework and build relationships early. Learn how programs get built, show up before opportunities are fully formed, and connect technical progress to real mission needs.