VA Partners with TechShop and DARPA

The VA Innovations team is excited to collaborate with TechShop and DARPA in providing cutting edge training and equipment for Veterans seeking to become more competitive in the job market or aiming to become successful entrepreneurs.

DARPA has a long history of finding the best, most revolutionary ideas, no matter where they come from. A new technology investment agreement between DARPA, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and TechShop will allow even more innovators to have access to the tools and services they need to participate in the design and build process.

This effort supports the VA Innovation Initiative's (VAi2) interest in finding new ways of providing Veterans with resources that help them to serve an important role in America's economy.

With locations across the United States, TechShop is a membership-based, do-it-yourself workshop and fabrication studio that supports a growing community of makers and innovators. TechShop also offers classes and personal instruction for individuals as they work to solve a variety of problems. TechShop is scheduled to open new facilities in Detroit, Pittsburgh, and Washington, D.C., this year.

Through this partnership, 1,000 two-year memberships will be made available to Veterans. The process for allocating these memberships is being finalized now. If you would like to express interest in being one of the recipients, please email vai2@va.gov with the following information:

• Your name
• Veteran status (discharge status, service, dates of service)
• What you plan to achieve with the membership
• Location where you are based