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National Security Innovation Scholars

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Former Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and Spring 2024 innovation scholars at Spring Cohort launch event.

The Stanford Gordian Knot Center National Security Innovation Scholars program aims to train the next generation of leaders in national security innovation. Whether you're an engineer, a policy maker, a scientist, an entrepreneur, or in another field, if you're a current Stanford student driven by curiosity, the urge to innovate, and the desire to create real impact, we're looking for you.

What Sets Us Apart?

This isn't only a rigorous academic endeavor. It's a unique convergence of Stanford's cutting-edge resources, Silicon Valley's dynamic innovation ecosystem, and a network of national security experts — all committed to addressing pressing national security challenges while mentoring and fostering the next generation of leaders. As a National Security Innovation Scholar, you will receive mentorship from an expert in the field, networking opportunities, and a stipend to fuel your interests and advance your project. More than that, you'll lead an initiative that's tailored to your interests and aimed at making tangible, impactful contributions to national security.

Delivering Impact: Your Contribution

At the Stanford Gordian Knot Center, we actively shape the future of national security with impactful projects. As a National Security Innovation Scholar, you'll create a significant deliverable — like a prototype or a rigorous policy piece with clear plans to address national security problems. This work showcases your ability to turn ideas into impactful solutions, reflecting the core values of our program. Throughout the quarter, you'll have the chance to share progress updates with faculty, mentors, and peers, fostering a collaborative environment for innovation. We encourage bold, ambitious projects and expect a deliverable at the end of the quarter. One of our guiding principles is to move past admiring problems and to create real impact.

Join Our Community

Beyond the program, you're joining a vibrant, enduring community of innovators and leaders. Our alumni community offers continued opportunities for collaboration, mentorship, and advancement. Diverse backgrounds, disciplines, and approaches are vital sources of innovation, and we encourage you to bring your unique viewpoint to the table, no matter how unconventional it may seem for national security. It's through this diversity that we can tackle complex problems from new angles and devise groundbreaking solutions.

Student interest has grown rapidly since the program launch in 2022, with more than 100 participants to date. If you are a Stanford student who wants to learn more about the National Security Innovation Scholars program, please email gordianknotcenter@stanford.edu.