A new direction for Air Force innovation

Air Force's EDGY Program is transitioning from a centrally enabled innovation initiative to a sustainable, Air Force-wide innovation system.

During a recent EDGY Town Hall, Director Preparedness Innovation – Air Force WGCDR Kylie Cimen outlined the program's new direction and end state, to be achieved by June 30 next year.

The transition aims to create a scalable innovation system where innovation is owned and driven by FEGs and units, while EDGY provides the frameworks, support and visibility needed to sustain innovation across Air Force.

"EDGY has always been about empowering our people to identify problems, develop solutions and rapidly translate ideas into mission-focused capability outcomes," WGCDR Cimen said.

"Now we're focused on ensuring those innovation practices become part of the way Air Force routinely operates."

The program's mission remains unchanged: to facilitate the detection, rapid development and adoption of bottom-up innovative capability aligned to preparedness priorities, helping establish the culture and behaviours of an adaptive warfighting Air Force. 

As part of the transition, EDGY is currently undertaking what it describes as "Stage 0", which includes consolidating the EDGY lab network, finalising program concepts and plans, documenting innovation support processes and workflows. Existing innovation projects will continue to receive support throughout the transition period. 

The future EDGY model will have three core functions: program awareness and community engagement, innovation support, and business operations. These functions will provide outreach and engagement activities, innovation triage and project support, program management, lab network oversight, workforce development and resource management. 

EDGY ambassadors and champions will remain critical enablers of an innovation culture across Air Force and continue to help connect innovators with support, promote innovation activities and encourage local ownership within units and FEGs.

WGCDR Cimen said the objective was not to centralise innovation, but to make it more accessible and embedded across the Service.

"EDGY will standardise innovation methods, facilitate and coordinate support, and provide visibility of innovation activity across Air Force so innovation becomes an enduring business-as-usual activity," she said. 

Looking ahead, the program will continue to promote innovation opportunities through initiatives including TAK-HACK, Defence Science and Technology Group innovator embed activities, increased cooperation across service bottom-up innovation programs and the annual EDGY innovation awards.