REFORMING THE INNOVATION ECOSYSTEM FOR NATIONAL

SECURITY IN THE CONTEXT OF THE USA’S EXERCISE DESH-3

AND THE EVOLUTION OF THE CONFLICT IN UKRAINE:

ADAPTATION OF THE GUIPRR MODEL IN THE ACADEMY OF

ROMANIAN SCIENTISTS - MILITARY SCIENCES SECTION

Captain (Nv) (ret) Sorin TOPOR, Ph.D^

(Academy of Romanian Scientists, 3 Ilfov, 050044, Bucharest, Romania,

email: secretariat@aosr.ro)

Abstract: Structural changes in the international security environment,

accentuated by the evolution of the war in Ukraine and the strategic competition

between great powers, have highlighted the decisive role of technological

innovation in the field of national security. Thus, the reform of the innovation

ecosystem for national security represents a strategic objective for strengthening

the national capacity to respond to contemporary complex threats. Defense

Enterprise Science Initiative and The United States' Technology Hub (DESH-3)

provides a relevant example of integrating the triad of scientific research, industry

and the military into an innovation ecosystem oriented towards operational results.

This paper analyzes the implications of these developments for Romania

and proposes the adoption of the GUIPRR (Government – University – Industry -

Philanthropy Research Roundtable) model, for the ecosystem within the Academy

of Scientists of Romania (AOȘR) – Military Sciences Section. This structure is an

academic core specialized in military sciences research, and the results of the

activities of its members are published in scientific papers and contribute to

various interdisciplinary security projects.

The research is based on an empirical documentary analysis, specialized

literature, case studies and examples of good practices in military innovation,

through a mixed methodology. The present study demonstrates that reforming the

security innovation ecosystem is a necessary condition for strengthening national

resilience and reducing the gap between scientific research and operational

application in the security field. The proposed conceptual scheme, adapted to the

Romanian context, can increase the efficiency of collaborations and the capacity

for innovation in this field.

Keywords: national security, innovation ecosystem, DESH-3, War in

Ukraine, GUIPRR, AOSR-Military Sciences Section.

DOI

10.56082/annalsarscimilit.2026.2.52



National Institute for Research and Development in Informatics - ICI Bucharest,

associated member of the Romanian Academy of Scientists, Bucharest, Romania, email:

sorin.topor@ici.ro.

52

Captain (Nv) (ret) Sorin TOPOR, Ph.D

1. Introduction

Innovation has become an essential element of national power in

the context of contemporary international security. Romania is in the

process of consolidating the innovation ecosystem for security, with an

emphasis on scientific research and international cooperation.

Especially under the impetus of the evolution of recent conflicts,

characterized by complex hybrid, technological and information threats,

strategic innovation capabilities have developed at an accelerated pace,

demonstrating that military superiority is no longer defined exclusively by

the classical industrial capacity, related to the war industry, but by the speed

with which a state can create, test and implement operationally relevant

technological solutions. Thus, Ukraine, in about four years of war, has

become a major drone production hub, transforming itself into a global

UAV superpower, producing millions of devices per year (currently approx.

4 million drones), rapidly innovating and exporting technology with a high

success rate, proven in combat (over 70% of interceptions)¹. This direction,

based on an agile adaptation model, also facilitates local production through

fundraising platforms (such as UNITED24) and collaboration with private

companies, an essential factor for increasing production and repair capacity.

Additionally, the echoes of the recent US Department of Defense

exercise DESH-3 reflect a paradigm shift, promoting an integrated model of

security-oriented innovation. Through a series of innovative experiments,

the US Air Force, together with its coalition partners Canada and the UK,

tested and refined the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) to improve

decision-making, operational efficiency, and enhance interoperability in the

face of complex global security challenges. The event not only

demonstrated the potential of AI in supporting military decision-making, but

also highlighted the importance of collaboration between the military and

private industries to optimize technological developments in military

operations and strategic planning. Colonel John Ohlund, director of the Air

Force's Advanced Battle Management System Cross-Functional Team

(ABMS CFT), said the exercise demonstrated that, under stress conditions,

in the absence of familiarity with the scenario and related data, the courses

of action proposed by the AI were 97% "tactically viable and valid"

compared to 48% of the solutions developed by human specialists². A major

1

Eduard, S. (2025), Ukraine produces more drones than all NATO countries combined.

"The war forced us to innovate faster", Digi24, available at https://www.digi24.ro/-

stiri/externe/ucraina-produce-mai-multe-drone-decat-toate-tarile-nato-la-un-loc-razboiul-

ne-a-obligat-sa-inovam-mai-repede-3499955, accessed on 16.01.2026.

2

Freedberg , Jr., S., J. (2026), Air Force says AI tools outperform Humana planners in '

battle

management'

experiment,

Breaking

Defense,

available

at

https://-

breakingdefense.com/2026/01/air-force-says-ai-tools-outperform-human-planners-in-battle-

management-experiment/, accessed on 02.02.2026.

53

REFORMING THE INNOVATION ECOSYSTEM FOR NATIONAL SECURITY IN THE

CONTEXT OF THE USA’S EXERCISE DESH-3 AND THE EVOLUTION OF THE

CONFLICT IN UKRAINE: ADAPTATION OF THE GUIPRR MODEL IN THE ACADEMY

OF ROMANIAN SCIENTISTS - MILITARY SCIENCES SECTION

conclusion was that innovation is no longer just an aspect limited to the

quality of the implemented environments or devices but a complex factor

related to the speed of technological transfer and the quality of the decision-

making process. Thus, the design and generation of software services within

human-machine relationships transcends the sequences of theoretical

substantiation, providing assistance without replacing human operators, to

produce measurable advantages in the real world. AI is an amplifier of

human judgment. Companies participating in DASH-3 retained their

intellectual property rights, the military developed a deeper understanding

of the functional requirements and integration challenges of future

command and control software, all in a balanced manner that encourages

innovation without limiting the market.

We can say that, currently, the integration of advanced

technologies into organizational structures and their culture represents a

rethinking of roles, processes and responsibilities, avoiding blind

automation and defensive resistance to technology. Innovation is not only

technological. All societal systems that maintain their operability

capabilities in the face of hybrid threats, specific to current conflicts

environments, highlight that the speed of decision-making is a strategic

factor as important as material superiority. In this context, the coordination

of algorithmic speed with human judgment generates sustainable

operational advantages, through digital innovation.

For Romania, a state located on NATO's Eastern Flank, the conflict

in Ukraine amplifies the pressure on national defense and security

capabilities. In this context, the paper argues for the need to reform the

innovation ecosystem for national security by consolidating the "Triple

Helix" development model³and adopting the GUIPRR integrative

conceptual model, within the Academy of the Romanian Scientists (AOȘR)

- Military Sciences Section, the structure that can hold the position of

academic actor with a strategic role in this field of sciences.

2. Theoretical framework and literature review

The concept of an innovation ecosystem derives from the theory of

national innovation systems⁴, which emphasizes the interdependence

between public institutions, academia and the private sector. Recent

literature extends this framework to the field of national security, arguing

that

effective

military

innovation

requires

integrated

governance

3

Leydesdorff , L. & Leydesdorff , H. (1996), Emergence of a Triple Helix of University-

Industry- Government Relations , Science and Public Policy 23(5), pp. 279-286,

https://doi.org/10.1093/spp/23.5.279.

4

UN, Trade and Development (2023), National innovation system , Angola Science ,

Technology and Innovation Policy Review , UN- iLibrary , pp. 22-50, ISBN (PDF):

9789210019422, DOI: https://doi.org/10.18356/9789210019422c009.

54

Captain (Nv) (ret) Sorin TOPOR, Ph.D

mechanisms and accelerated technology transfer processes⁵. The “Triple

Helix” model provides a relevant conceptual basis for the relationships

between Universities-Industry-Government. Recent studies suggest that, in

the field of security, this model needs to be complemented with new

dimensions, such as strategic governance and sustainability strategies⁶. To

be successful in the long term, organizations must not only report only on

their current performance, in terms of corporate sustainability, but also

demonstrate that they align their models and strategies towards

sustainability.

Lessons learned from DESH-3 and DESH-2 highlight the

importance of institutional fragmentation and aligning scientific research

with the real operational needs of the armed forces. Analyses by RAND and

CSIS argue that the success of these initiatives depends on the ability to

create flexible collaborative networks that favor the reduction of innovation

cycles^7,8. The recent DARPA report⁹draws attention to the significant

progress in software technology over the past decade and the wide-ranging

implications for secure development processes by commercial vendors, the

adoption of secure memory programming languages, and the maturation of

formal methods that have enabled verification of critical software

components used in commercial products and online services.

The conflict in Ukraine demonstrates the multidimensional nature of

contemporary warfare, in which conventional military operations integrate

hybrid, cyber and information actions. The excessive use of drones, artificial

intelligence and commercial solutions quickly adapted to military needs

indicates a structural change in the way innovation in warfare occurs¹⁰.

⁵Modig , O. & Andersson , K. (2022), Military Innovation as the Result of Mental Models

of Technology , Scandinavian Journal of Military Studies, 5(1), pp. 45-62, DOI:

10.31374/sjms.117.

6

Traxler , A., A., Schrack, D. , Greiling , D., Feldbauer , J. & Lautner , M. (2023), The

interplay of sustainability reporting and management control – an exploration of ways for

dovetailing to develop reporting beyond accountability , Journal of Applied Accounting

Research 26(6), pp. 160-182, https://doi.org/10.1108/JAAR-08-2022-0222.

7

Athanasia G. & Cota J. (2022), Towards the Department of Commerce and Innovation :

The 2022-2026 Strategic Plan , Washington, DC: Center for Strategic & International

Studies,

available

at

https://www.csis.org/blogs/perspectives-innovation/towards-

department-commerce-and-innovation-2022-2026-strategic-plan, accessed on 17.01.2026.

8

Kotila , B., Drezner , J., A., Bartels , EB, Hill, D., Hodgson , QE, Huilgol , SS, Manuel,

S., Simpson, M. & Wong , JP (2023), Strengthening the Defense Innovation Ecosystem ,

Santa Monica, CA: RAND Corporation, available at https://www.rand.org/pubs/-

research_reports/RRA1352-1.html, accessed 01.02.2026

9

NASEM (2025), Defense Software for a Contested Future : Agility , Assurance , and

Incentives , Washington, DC: National Academies Press, https://doi.org/10.17226/29129.

10

Kukkola , J. (2025), Russia's Adaptation in War against Ukraine (2022-2025) , National

Defense University, Department of Warfare, Helsinki, available at https://www.-

doria.fi/handle/10024/193189, accessed on 25.01.2026.

55

REFORMING THE INNOVATION ECOSYSTEM FOR NATIONAL SECURITY IN THE

CONTEXT OF THE USA’S EXERCISE DESH-3 AND THE EVOLUTION OF THE

CONFLICT IN UKRAINE: ADAPTATION OF THE GUIPRR MODEL IN THE ACADEMY

OF ROMANIAN SCIENTISTS - MILITARY SCIENCES SECTION

These developments highlight the need to create innovation ecosystems

capable of operating under strategic pressure, with reduced reaction times

and a high level of adaptability, to unify resources, avoid duplication and

fragmentation. In this context, preventing technological surprise for any

security and defense system requires frequent reviews and assessments of

current military programs, for which an expert structure is needed, capable

of evaluating, monitoring and proposing recommendations within a broad

framework of scientific research, outside of government efforts.

All these scientific research efforts in the field of innovation should

be seen not as a threat to the current research and development programs of

military structures, but as a form of collaboration between industry and

academia so that they are fully capable of responding quickly to

technological

surprises,

indicating

measurable

coefficients

and

comprehensive frameworks for ensuring investments and for the efficient

direction of innovation efforts. In essence, what is presented is not a new

topic of discussion. For the US Army, the example of the National

Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) is extremely

relevant. In this academic structure, committees are created that develop

critical reports, which make it possible to consolidate institutional quality

standards, with objectivity and responsiveness, based on solid evidence.

Thus, the Committee for Preventing Technological Surprise developed a

consensual report in which a series of pertinent comments and suggestions

were presented, from which a forward-looking conclusion for the future of

the army results, namely that a collaboration between science and

technology is necessary by streamlining research and innovation for the

army's basic technological solutions, simultaneously with those that are

fully commercialized and in transition, with the support and experience of a

network of external, connected and involved partners ¹¹.

In Romania, such a scientific research structure could be the

Academy of Romanian Scientists (AOSR)-Military Sciences Section.

AOȘR ranked fourth in the scientific hierarchy of the SCIMAGO rankings

in 2025¹². This ranking certifies the value of scientific results in

international rankings. The members of the Military Sciences Section have

complex and interdisciplinary areas of scientific competence, mentioned in

11

NASEM (2025), Government – University – Industry – Philanthropy Research

Roundtable , National Academies of Sciences , Engineering, and Medicine, USA, available

at

04.02.2026.

12

https://www.nationalacademies.org/units/PGA-GUIRR-24-P-598,

accessed

on

AOSR (2026), Academy of Scientists of Romania, at the top of the international

SCIMAGO rankings , available at https://www.aosr.ro/academia-oamenilor-de-stiinta-din-

romania-in-topul-clasamentelor-internationale-scimago/, accessed on 04.02.2026.

56

Captain (Nv) (ret) Sorin TOPOR, Ph.D

their Curriculum vitae and certified by the results obtained in their

professional career ¹³.

3. Research method and hypotheses

To robustly validate of hypotheses and increase the replicability of

the research, the study uses a mixed methodology (MMR- Mixed Method

Research), based on triangulation. To validate the adaptation of the

GUIPRR model in the context of the Romanian security ecosystem, we will

apply a sequential exploratory design of theoretical data to the operational

realities identified in the case studies (DESH-3 and the conflict in Ukraine).

Thus we have three correlated phases that will ensure the validation

of the formulated hypotheses:

- Documentary and bibliometric analysis (qualitative phase) : In

this phase, we examined strategic documents issued by NATO, EU, US

Department of Defense, NASEM technical reports (2025, 2026), the

National Defense Strategy, AOSR reports, but also some works indexed in

international databases (Scimago, Web of Science, Scopus and Google

Scholar). This allowed us to extract performance indicators for the " battle

ready" innovation;

- Benchmarking - Comparative analysis of the GUIPRR model with

the traditional acquisition model. Representative Romanian collaborative

platforms were analyzed and we identified the current degree of maturity

and fragmentation of the Romanian innovation ecosystem;

- Conceptual modeling and logical validation: Based on the

extracted data, a restructuring of the US GUIPRR model was proposed to

the institutional specifics of the AOȘR-Military Sciences Section.

The study tests the following research hypotheses:

I.1 - The adaptability of the GUIPRR model significantly reduces the

transition time from fundamental research to operational application in the

security field, by eliminating bureaucratic barriers.

I.2 – Cross-sectoral strategic governance (GUIPRR) increases

resilience to hybrid, cyber and information threats, as well as other

technological surprises.

I.3 - Positioning AOȘR – Military Sciences Section as a central hub

for grant management (challenge-based funding) facilitates the integration

of national research into international innovation networks.

The main analysis tools and techniques used were:

-

Content analysis: was applied mainly to institutional reports

and the DESH-3 exercise to quantify the effectiveness of AI in relation

to human decision-making (tactical validity of 97%);

¹³AOSR (2026b), Members of the Military Sciences Section, available at

https://www.aosr.ro/membrii-sectiei-stiinte-militare/, accessed on 04.02.2026.

57

REFORMING THE INNOVATION ECOSYSTEM FOR NATIONAL SECURITY IN THE

CONTEXT OF THE USA’S EXERCISE DESH-3 AND THE EVOLUTION OF THE

CONFLICT IN UKRAINE: ADAPTATION OF THE GUIPRR MODEL IN THE ACADEMY

OF ROMANIAN SCIENTISTS - MILITARY SCIENCES SECTION

-

Strategic Assessment Matrix: was developed to compare the six critical

GUIPRR components: Governance, Universities, Industry,

Partnerships/Philanthropy, Resources and Resilience;

-

GAP analysis: to highlight the asynchronicity between research results

and the absorption capacity of the national defense industry.

The research conducted recognizes the limitations derived from the

classified nature of some military data and the dependence on external

collaborations for prototype testing. At the level of the AOȘR - Military

Sciences Section, we appreciate that the lack of our own, officially

documented laboratories determines that scientific research is dependent on

external collaborations, especially for application testing.

The analysis complies with research ethics, using only open sources

(OSINT) and indexed academic literature. Last but not least, we recognize

that conducting semi-structured interviews (Delphi method) with security

and industry experts would considerably strengthen the argumentation,

which is the main objective of a future project.

4. GUIPRR model – conceptual foundation

The GUIRR model (Government – University – Industry Research

Roundtable) was proposed by the National Academies of Sciences,

Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) in 1984. It was renamed GUIPRR

(Government – University – Industry – Philanthropy Research Roundtable)

in 2024, with the introduction of the philanthropic dimension.

GUIPRR focuses on the health and productivity of the U.S. research

and innovation ecosystem, providing a collaborative, cross-sector platform

to address the challenges that prevent leading scientific institutions from

reaching their full potential¹⁴. This mission is accomplished by convening

scientific leaders from across the research and innovation ecosystem,

including senior representatives from government, academia, industry,

philanthropy, venture capital, private equity, and banking, to address critical

and current scientific and technological challenges, and, where appropriate,

to engage in activities that address specific cross-sectoral impediments that

may prevent or hinder the delivery of projects. GUIPRR/USA institutions

recognize that the most pressing, actionable problems cannot be solved by a

single company, university, philanthropic organization or federal agency¹⁵.

The GUIPRR model integrates the following dimensions:

14

NASEM (2025), Government – University – Industry – Philanthropy Research

Roundtable , National Academies of Sciences , Engineering, and Medicine, USA, available

at

14.01.2026.

15

https://www.nationalacademies.org/units/PGA-GUIRR-24-P-598,

accessed

on

NASEM (2026), Government - University - Industry - Philanthropy Research

Roundtable, available at https://www.nationalacademies.org/units/PGA-GUIRR-24-P-

598#work-with-us accessed on 15.01.2026.

58

Captain (Nv) (ret) Sorin TOPOR, Ph.D

- Strategic governance - to align research with security objectives;

- Resources unification - to avoid duplication and fragmentation;

- Institutional interaction between academia, industry and security

structures;

- Results-oriented innovation process, with a focus on operational

applicability;

- Collaborative networks, national and international;

- Operational adaptability - as an indicator of ecosystem efficiency,

operationalized through tools to measure the speed of adaptation to changes,

the duration of the decision-making process and the ability to generate

effective actions in order to obtain adequate results in conditions of

uncertainty, risk or crisis^16,17

.

Therefore, GUIPRR provides a unique forum where participants

understand each other's thinking, forming a diversity of perspectives and

institutional cultures. The meetings identify those aspects that develop

public-private partnerships, critical directions of scientific research,

scientific training of the workforce, the effects of globalization on domestic

research, but also other urgent issues of emerging technological importance

that can benefit from closer and more effective intersectoral collaboration,

as well as philanthropic investments.

Internationally, the GUIPRR model is applied in DARPA/USA and

provides flexible funding for high-risk / high-reward projects. In the EU, the

most representative structures are in Germany, which applies a dual civil-

military model, with an emphasis on industrial applicability, as well as in

the Nordic states, where the emphasis is on academic-industrial-public

cooperation for resilience and sustainability.

5. Analysis and Discussion: GUIPRR Impact Assessment

In Romania, there are numerous collaborative platforms that address

various directions of scientific research for technological and societal

development, in the form of foundations, federations, associations, clusters,

think tanks etc. These structures function as connecting environments

between the private sector, academia and civil society, mobilizing financial

resources and expertise for projects that often do not receive sufficient

funding from the state.

For example:

16

Seaman , R. (2022), Deploying Forces , Enhancing Readiness , Accelerating

Responsiveness , in The Secretary General's Annual Report, 2021, NATO, pp. 19-23,

available at https://www.nato.int/content/dam/nato/legacy-wcm/media_pdf/2022/3/pdf/-

sgar21-en.pdf, accessed on 02.02.2026.

17

OECD (2021), Government at

a

Glance 2021, OECD Publishing, Paris,

https://doi.org/10.1787/1c258f55-en.

59

REFORMING THE INNOVATION ECOSYSTEM FOR NATIONAL SECURITY IN THE

CONTEXT OF THE USA’S EXERCISE DESH-3 AND THE EVOLUTION OF THE

CONFLICT IN UKRAINE: ADAPTATION OF THE GUIPRR MODEL IN THE ACADEMY

OF ROMANIAN SCIENTISTS - MILITARY SCIENCES SECTION

- The Federation of Community Foundations in Romania (FFCR) - is

one of the most important collaborative platforms. Community foundations

from 16 cities in Romania manage funds such as the Științescu Fund.

Through this, with the support of the Romanian American Foundation

(RAF), educational support is provided to children and young people

passionate about that side of scientific disciplines that can hardly be

described in textbooks, through experiments, practical activities and

games¹⁸.

- The

Federation

of

Non-Governmental

Organizations

for

Development (FOND): It is a structure that promotes the involvement of

non-governmental organizations in Romania in the implementation of

national

and European policies of international

cooperation for

development. It brings together numerous associations, foundations and

initiatives with the aim of educating the general public on global solidarity

and sustainable development, as well as for the implementation of a

coherent Romanian policy in the field of international cooperation for

development and humanitarian assistance¹⁹.

- New Strategy Center (NSC): It is a non-governmental think tank

specializing in foreign policy, defense and security with a focus on the

wider Black Sea region and the Balkans. It organizes regular debates (in the

Chatham House regime and public), international conferences and publishes

impact studies that substantiate some strategic decisions²⁰.

- The National Defense College Foundation: It is an education and

collaboration platform that facilitates dialogue between military and civilian

elites. According to its statute, the main objectives are to organize and carry

out activities to affirm and defend the values, rights and fundamental

interests of Romania in the field of national security and defense, to support

and develop interdisciplinary scientific research and to promote Romanian

and other countries' cultural values in the field of security and defense²¹.

- Cyber Security Cluster of Excellence (CYSCOE): It is the largest

triple helix cybersecurity cluster in Romania, bringing together companies,

¹⁸Slomon , G. (2024), Fondul Știinșescu or how the future is transformed into the present.

About a different kind of education, which we do not find in textbooks , PressOne , available

at https://pressone.ro/fondul-stiintescu-sau-cum-se-transforma-viitorul-in-prezent-despre-o-

altfel-de-educatie-pe-care-nu-o-gasim-in-manuale, accessed on 24.01.2026.

19

FOND (2025), About FOND, available at https://www.fondromania.org/despre-

fond/#organizatii-membre, accessed on 28.01.2026.

20

NSC

(2025),

About,

New

Strategy

Center,

available

at

https://-

newstrategycenter.ro/en/about/, accessed on 28.01.2026,

²¹FCNAp (2025), CNAp Foundation , available at https://fcnap.ro/fundatia-cnap/, accessed

on 28.01.2026.

60

Captain (Nv) (ret) Sorin TOPOR, Ph.D

universities, public and private institutions to develop solutions against

hybrid threats and to promote research in AI and blockchain ²².

- Defence Network Romania (DEFNET.RO): It is a European

platform for dual- use technologies, research, development and innovation

in defence and security. It functions as an institutional accelerator that

connects defence industry companies with European and national funding

programmes (such as the SAFE mechanism). This project constitutes an

ecosystem for the rapid formation of consortia adapted to each funding

call²³.

Government Ordinance No. 26/2000 on associations and foundations

regulates their establishment and operation for the purpose of developing

activities of general interest, including scientific research. All of them are

included in the National NGO Register, which provides good transparency

from state institutions regarding their object, mission and methods of

collaboration.

Thus, in the military field, innovation ecosystems formed by these

complex structures ensure or monitor the rapid transfer of know-how

between research and practical applications, while maintaining information

security.

The comparative analysis of ecosystems highlights that innovation in

the field of security is no longer defined exclusively by classical industrial

capacity, but by the speed of implementation of operationally relevant

technological solutions.

Currently, research and development activity in the field of national

security and defense is marked by a fragmented and redundant character,

which constitutes a structural vulnerability. The absence of strategic

coordination determines duplication of efforts and inefficient consumption

of resources, the process remaining non-transparent until the completion of

the projects. In addition, there is an asynchronicity between research results

and the absorption capacity of the defense industry, many solutions being

anachronistic, or prematurely developed to be integrated into the production

flow.

The GUIPRR model proposed for the AOȘR-Military Sciences

Section would contribute to reducing this vulnerability, providing a coherent

institutional framework compatible with NATO and EU practices, for

unifying resources, to avoid duplication of efforts between governmental,

academic and private structures. Within it, unlike classic charity, security

philanthropy would finance the "missing link" between scientific theory and

military prototype, a sequence often ignored by rigid state budgets. In

22

CYSCOE (2025), Cyber Security Cluster of Excellence, available at https://cyscoe.ro/,

accessed on 28.01.2026.

23

DEFNET.RO (2025), DEFNET.RO, Defence Network Romania, available at

https://defnet.ro/despre/, accessed on 28.01.2026.

61

REFORMING THE INNOVATION ECOSYSTEM FOR NATIONAL SECURITY IN THE

CONTEXT OF THE USA’S EXERCISE DESH-3 AND THE EVOLUTION OF THE

CONFLICT IN UKRAINE: ADAPTATION OF THE GUIPRR MODEL IN THE ACADEMY

OF ROMANIAN SCIENTISTS - MILITARY SCIENCES SECTION

particular, the lessons learned from DESH-3 support the need to implement

AI in this ecosystem for innovation, through the speed of solutions proposed

by these algorithms.

The adaptation of the GUIPRR model to the AOȘR-Military

Sciences Section will integrate six strategic components presented in Table

1.

Compound

G – Governance

Definition

Integrated decision-making Efficient coordination of research

structures and policies projects

Academies and academic Generating expertise and innovative

research centers methodologies

Manufacturers and private Transforming research into

Relevance for military research

U – Universities

I – Industry

sector

Partnerships Institutional

applicable solutions

cross- Access to know-how, standards and

interoperability

P

–

and

and Philanthropy

sectoral collaborations

R – Resources

Public and private funds, Ensuring project sustainability

research facilities

R – Resilience

Adaptation mechanisms to Vulnerability reduction and

rapid changes

operational continuity

Table 1: Strategic components of the GUIPRR model

GUIPRR components can support the following development

directions:

Governance:

−

Creating a decision-making framework for coordinating research

and innovation projects;

Systems for monitoring and evaluating academic and applied

performance;

MApN/MCID will define operational needs and provide the legal

framework and testing in polygons.

Strengthening the collaboration of military academic institutions

with other national and international universities;

Joint projects and interdisciplinary research hubs;

Developing fundamental research in critical areas such as applied

AI, drones or composite materials.

Public-private partnerships to transform research into applicable

solutions;

Pilot programs for testing methodologies developed within

academic research;

Universities:

Industry:

−

Production units take university prototypes and transform them into

scalable products (mass production).

Collaborations with NATO, the EU and international centers of

excellence, creation of permanent round tables where military

leaders, university rectors and defense industry CEOs can set the

research agenda for at least 5 years;

Partnerships

and

philanthropy:

−

Integrating best practices and international security standards;

62

Captain (Nv) (ret) Sorin TOPOR, Ph.D

−

Scholarships and research programs funded by philanthropic

organizations will develop human capital. For example, funding for

a PhD in national security may be accompanied by clauses

requiring beneficiaries to work for a period within the defense or

national research structures.

Resources:

−

Public funds and grants for strategic projects or for participation in

international research projects

In the academic framework, testing sandboxes for new

technologies, with mixed funding to reduce pressure on the state

budget ;

−

Accelerated technology transfer through regulations that allow

intellectual property generated in universities (with philanthropic or

private funds) to be rapidly adopted by the national defense

industry.

Strategic foundations, through philanthropic projects, could finance

the stages of technology transfer to industrial production where the

risk is too high for banks, but the impact on national security is

vital.

Resilience:

−

Creating adaptive mechanisms for rapid research and innovation;

Continuity plans in scientific activities and collaborative projects ;

use " technology would mean food and energy security solutions -

which can support army logistics, health - collaborations for field

medicine and biotechnologies applicable in theaters of operations.

The proposed transformation for the AOȘR-Military Sciences

Section involves moving from an academic forum to an active "grant hub",

which will optimize a number of key aspects of the security and defense

innovation ecosystem by:

- Optimal financing mechanism: The implementation of a mixed-fed

innovation fund (state-private-philanthropy) will allow the AOȘR to launch

competitions for solutions to strategic vulnerabilities established by CSAT

or MApN. Moreover, attracting funds from the offset clauses for the

acquisition of military equipment can revitalize Romanian research to

develop local components or to train Romanian experts. In addition, many

of the university innovations are not addressed and foreseen to be applied in

industrial production because they are too risky for private investors and too

“immature” for the rigid budgets of the Ministry of Defense. Financial

support by a strategic association, through grants, can quickly resolve this

issue, especially in the prototyping phase.

- Agility and flexibility: Public procurement for research is regulated

by specific laws and regulations. A strategic association can bring together

partnerships, hire international experts or acquire testing equipment and

services much faster, accelerating the innovation speed;

- Neutrality and exchange of ideas : In a private entity, but aligned

with national objectives, a neutral platform for the exchange of ideas can be

managed , as well as an information space can be created where universities,

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REFORMING THE INNOVATION ECOSYSTEM FOR NATIONAL SECURITY IN THE

CONTEXT OF THE USA’S EXERCISE DESH-3 AND THE EVOLUTION OF THE

CONFLICT IN UKRAINE: ADAPTATION OF THE GUIPRR MODEL IN THE ACADEMY

OF ROMANIAN SCIENTISTS - MILITARY SCIENCES SECTION

military leaders and industry CEOs can collaborate without the barriers

determined by intellectual property rights or other commercial conflicts of

interest;

- Developing the human capital of professionals: Such a strategic

structure can attract talent by providing research fellowships in critical areas

(e.g. AI, quantum computing, composite materials etc.) and in other

research directions that are not yet widely addressed. Through the

“Fellowship” model, AOȘR can become a magnet for Romanian researchers

in the diaspora, accelerating the delivery of solutions by weeks or months.

This will ensure a reserve of experts, military and civilian, prepared for

future security challenges. In addition, a private company that would prefer

to finance elite research through donations could, subsequently, recruit

talent for its own development, rather than leaving all the money to the

general state budget.

Possible benefits and advantages for the national innovation

ecosystem in the field of national security and defense:

1. Strengthening military research and ensuring technological

sovereignty: No longer will only "turnkey" solutions be purchased from

partners, but a series of critical components adapted to national

requirements and specificities will be developed;

2. Preserving brains and increasing the visibility of national

research at the international level: Romanian researchers will be involved

in projects that have patriotic and technological meaning, benefiting from

funding and support for the development of knowledge.

3. Collaboration and know-how exchanges in an apolitical form:

Such a platform can bring rival academic entities or competing companies

into the same project, in an ethical, moral and neutral manner.

4. Increasing the resilience of the academic ecosystem for security:

Increasing technology transfer from start-ups to the industry will strengthen

national security, knowledge and specialization of the human capita, as well

as the motivation for major players in the defense industry to support the

development of testing facilities and specific laboratories.

5. Last but not least, such a transformation could also generate long-

term income: If research funded through the AOȘR leads to the creation of a

patent, this will ensure income from a share of the intellectual property

rights when the industry sells the product for export (the "Royalty"

strategy).

In this context, AOȘR-Military Sciences Section has the advantage

of being a public interest institution, but to become a pillar of the innovation

ecosystem for security and defense, it needs a structural paradigm shift.

This transformation should aim to achieve the following stages:

1. Reconfiguring the status from academic forum to "Grants Hub":

Currently, AOȘR functions as a consecration forum that offers titles and

64

Captain (Nv) (ret) Sorin TOPOR, Ph.D

prizes for scientific works published two years ago, following its own

evaluation methodology. Transition to a challenge -based funding involves

managing a defense innovation fund, fed by a mix of funds (state subsidies,

donations from defense industry actors, philanthropic partners). Thus,

through CSAT or MApN, a series of projects will be established and AOȘR

will open the grant competition for researchers.

2. Creating a board of directors that includes representatives from

all four spheres of the GUIPRR model, namely: representatives of the

National Defense System structures for strategic alignment, rectors of both

technical and military universities and academies for access to laboratories,

CEOs of tech/defense companies for the scalability of solutions, fund

managers or philanthropists to ensure financial agility.

3. Modifying and adapting acquisition rules to simplify bureaucracy

and increase philanthropic agility: These should be based on increasing the

capacity to quickly acquire software and hardware components, especially

in the prototyping phases, as well as accepting risk. It can be accepted that

approximately 70% of research projects may fail. However, as long as 30%

of them provide a tactical advantage to military and security structures, the

risk must be accepted.

4. Structural modification and reorganization into discussion groups

as project management units. Thus, such a structure becomes the interface

for validating technologies in relation to the General Staff.

Conclusions and strategic recommendations

The paper demonstrates that reforming the innovation ecosystem

through the GUIPRR model is not just an academic option, but a strategic

necessity for strengthening national resilience. Thus, it validates hypotheses

I.1 and I.2, integrating the philanthropic dimension and strategic governance

reducing the time of technological transition. At the same time, it increases

the capacity to respond to hybrid threats, in accordance with the

comparative analysis of NATO/US models.

The Military Sciences Section/AOȘR represents an academic

research and publication core, with impact in the field of national security.

The adoption of the GUIPRR model provides a strategic framework for

strengthening collaboration between universities, industry and international

partners, optimizing resources and increasing the resilience of the

innovation ecosystem in the military field. The transformation of the

Military Sciences Section/AOȘR is possible. This structure possessing the

interdisciplinary competence necessary to act as an academic core, risk and

innovation catalyst for the higher interests of the state. Thus, hypothesis I.3

is also validated.

In addition, the application of the GUIPRR model to the Romanian

National Defense System will generate the following institutional functions:

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REFORMING THE INNOVATION ECOSYSTEM FOR NATIONAL SECURITY IN THE

CONTEXT OF THE USA’S EXERCISE DESH-3 AND THE EVOLUTION OF THE

CONFLICT IN UKRAINE: ADAPTATION OF THE GUIPRR MODEL IN THE ACADEMY

OF ROMANIAN SCIENTISTS - MILITARY SCIENCES SECTION

1. The Government will identify and establish the list of strategic

vulnerabilities (for example: hybrid threats in the context of strategic

communication);

2. AOȘR-Military Sciences Section will launch a solutions

competition and will immediately finance a series of student teams and

start-ups from private funds/philanthropy;

3. Military universities or scientific research institutes will provide

access to laboratories and accredited academic staff in the field of Military

Sciences for mentoring activities in order to respect scientific rigor during

the testing of solutions;

4. The military industry (state or private) will take over the winning

prototype to integrate it into defense systems.

To ensure the operability of this model, the following immediate

actions are necessary:

1. Institutional restructuring: Submitting a restructuring proposal

(a strategic reform plan) to the CSAT, to transform the AOȘR from a body

of high-level experts into a technological sovereignty accelerator.

2. Legislative update: Creating tax incentives for the philanthropic

sector investing in national security and simplifying procurement rules for

prototyping

3. Public-private and philanthropic partnerships: Implementing

"offset" clauses to revitalize research in Romania through investments in

local components and expert training.

This paper proposes a paradigm shift in research and development

management for the Military Sciences field in Romania. The proposed

solution of adopting the GUIPRR operational model offers Romania the

chance to move from the stage of technology consumer to that of generator

of sovereign solutions, adapted to the challenges of the 21st century.

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