Wright Brothers Institute Programming Aligns to Accelerate Midwest Innovation
For over 20 years, Wright Brothers Institute (WBI) has acted as the Midwest’s unofficial innovation cluster — long before the term was part of the Small Business Association’s playbook. From accelerating Air Force technology adoption to helping veteran-owned small businesses secure contracts, WBI has consistently brought defense priorities, workforce pipelines, and entrepreneurial energy together in one ecosystem. WBI is strategizing new ways to scale programming that will reach across Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, and Michigan to infuse the Midwest region with a stable, prepared pipeline of talent and technology.
WBI’s portfolio of services—IMPACT, COMPASS, Proving Grounds, DEFIANCE, EDGE, and BRIDGE—provides a fully integrated and sustainable framework that ensures long-term success. Together, these offerings form a continuous pipeline from idea to impact: IMPACT aligns science and technology priorities with actionable, dual-use solutions; Proving Grounds transforms concepts into tailored hardware and software innovations; DEFIANCE accelerates and de-risks digital capability development; EDGE guides STEM entrepreneurs from concept through scalable business growth; and BRIDGE cultivates the next generation of STEM talent, ensuring a steady flow of skilled professionals into the defense ecosystem. By connecting early-stage research, rapid prototyping, digital transformation, entrepreneurship, and workforce development under one coordinated model, WBI creates a self-reinforcing cycle of innovation that strengthens the regional defense industrial base, maximizes return on investment, and sustains impact.
WBI has a long history of strengthening the defense industrial base by convening the right partners at the right time. In its battery modernization initiative, WBI brought together over 40 government, industry, and academic stakeholders to evaluate and advance lithium-ion battery technologies for Air Force platforms. This collaboration closed supply chain gaps, connected vetted suppliers directly with Air Force program offices, and resulted in millions in cost avoidance for sustainment operations.
In the Space Propulsion Manufacturing Readiness Analysis, WBI partnered with FASTLANE and regional manufacturers to assess production capabilities for advanced propulsion systems. The result was a projected 15% reduction in manufacturing costs and a 30% improvement in readiness — evidence of how targeted regional collaboration can directly serve Department of Defense priorities.
Small business engagement has been another cornerstone of WBI’s impact. Hundreds of companies have been guided through the SBIR/STTR process, introduced to Air Force program managers, and connected with acquisition opportunities. In one UAV energy storage analysis, WBI identified capability gaps that led directly to Air Force engagements with small manufacturers in Ohio and Michigan, compressing development timelines by up to 80% compared to traditional acquisition paths.
WBI also plays a critical role in talent pipeline development. Through programs like Summer of Innovation, high school students are immersed in real-world, defense-relevant challenges and connected to technical mentors, sparking career interest in aerospace, manufacturing, and cyber fields. Partnerships with universities such as the University of Dayton and Miami University ensure that undergraduates and graduate students alike get hands-on experience with Department of Defense research, which keeps more talent in-region after graduation.
WBI has been a vital connector for veterans transitioning into the civilian workforce. Collaborations with programs like SkillBridge have helped service members apply their technical skills to civilian defense projects, often in partnership with small businesses or startups. Veteran innovation showcases hosted by WBI have provided these entrepreneurs with direct access to Air Force stakeholders and commercialization pathways — a level of visibility that is often difficult to achieve without a trusted intermediary.