MISSION: Defense Alliance accelerates commercialization for technology products and services, and contributes to regional economic development by supporting small businesses in the Upper Midwest. The Alliance also contributes to the vibrancy of the defense industry and the national technology base in various market areas such as: power and energy, strategic natural resources, cybersecurity, and others. The national technology base is driven largely by defense requirements and spending (both off-the-shelf and R&D), and encourage firms to consider funding their innovations through DoD programs where available. The mission of the Alliance also includes a focus on companies that are in rural areas of the Upper Midwest (principally ND, SD, MN and WI), including (but not restricted to) Federally-designated HUBZones and state-designated Opportunity Zones.