The Department of Defense (DoD) has increased engagement with small businesses through webinars, virtual Trusted Capital Marketplace activities and regular teleconferences with trade groups to protect such businesses from “adversarial capital” offered by foreign rivals during the coronavirus pandemic, FCW reported Monday.
“We simply cannot afford this period of economic uncertainty to lead to loss of American know-how on critical technologies,” Jennifer Santos, deputy assistant secretary of defense for industrial policy, said during an Intelligence and National Security Alliance-hosted webinar on April 28.
Santos said the Pentagon has partnered with the Small Business Administration to conduct webinars on adversarial capital, cyber hygiene and other topics and has advanced engagement with companies through the newly established industrial base council.
She noted that the council helps the industrial base align its priorities with those of the department and identify authorities to address issues. “We need to protect our industrial base from what could be adversarial capital and during COVID, we maintain the same due diligence,” Santos added.
