The Department of Defense (DoD) announced the establishment of the Trusted Capital Digital Marketplace (TCDM) on Wednesday, which will establish trusted sources of funding for the defense industrial base (DIB) and prevent threats to national security.
Funding for small and medium-sized businesses is vital to the DIB, but threats such as front companies, foreign direct investment, and joint ventures make it difficult to protect U.S. technology and intellectual property.
The goal of TCDM is to identify secure sources of funding for small and medium-sized businesses and combat threats from adversarial capital. TCDM will provide a “gateway to an investment ecosystem designed to promote innovation and ensure access to trusted sources of capital for emerging technologies and critical capabilities required for national security,” according to the DoD release.
“Trusted Capital works by providing opportunities for trusted financial institutions and qualifying companies to explore mutually beneficial partnerships in support of national security goals,” Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment Ellen M. Lord said. “Aligned with the National Defense Strategy, the Trusted Capital program provides a more lethal force by creating new partnerships in order to reform the way the government will provide opportunity for innovation.”
The program is led by Katie Arrington, the DoD’s CISO for Acquisition and Sustainment, and Colin Supko, the director of Trusted Capital.
“I congratulate Ms. Arrington and the entire team involved in making this project a reality,” said Lord. “Through tools like the Trusted Capital Digital Marketplace, the Department of Defense and industry work together to make the Defense Industrial Base more secure.”
