About Independence Foundry

Independence Foundry is a Philadelphia-based nonprofit Defense & Dual-Use Technology Nexus built to strengthen the region’s national security relevance through long-term coordination of technology, talent, and institutional collaboration.

Founded in 2025, the Foundry was established to address a structural gap in the region: the absence of a stable, federally aligned institution dedicated to synchronizing dual-use technology development, DoD-aligned workforce pathways, and government–industry–academia collaboration at scale.

This work requires continuity, trust, and institutional neutrality. Independence Foundry was built to provide all three..

Why Independence Foundry Exists

Philadelphia holds extraordinary national security assets:

  • World-class research universities

  • A growing dual-use and defense-adjacent industry base

  • Proximity to major Navy and Department of Defense organizations

  • A large, diverse, and under-connected talent pipeline

Historically, these strengths have operated in parallel rather than in coordination.

  • Students lacked consistent access to DoD-aligned pathways

  • Industry faced fragmented talent and research engagement

  • Universities lacked sustained federal coordination

  • Federal partners lacked a stable, neutral regional convening institution

Independence Foundry exists to unify these assets into a coherent, mission-aligned regional ecosystem.

What Independence Foundry Is - And Is Not

Independence Foundry is:

  • A federally aligned, regionally positioned nonprofit institution

  • Focused on dual-use technologies with real defense relevance

  • Built to operate at the institutional—not program—level

  • Designed for durable ecosystem capacity, not short-term innovation cycles

Independence Foundry is not:

  • An incubator

  • An accelerator

  • A civic innovation hub

  • A venture fund

We do not compete with startups, primes, universities, or federal offices.
We exist to coordinate, align, and strengthen the ecosystem that supports them.

Mission and Operating Logic

Mission

To accelerate dual-use technologies, expand DoD-aligned talent pipelines, and strengthen government–industry–academia collaboration to increase Philadelphia’s national security and economic impact.

Institutional Operating Logic

Independence Foundry operates across four integrated pillars:

  • Dual-Use Technology Acceleration

  • Defense Talent Pipelines

  • Government–Industry–Academia Nexus

  • Regional National Security Impact

Each pillar reinforces the others. This is not a collection of programs—it is an integrated operating system.

Founding Context and Strategic Timing

Independence Foundry was launched during a period of structural realignment across the Navy’s innovation and rapid capability ecosystem.

As NavalX and the Tech Bridges face uncertainty and the Navy stands up the Navy Rapid Capabilities Office, regions across the country face a new reality:

Those without a stable, nonprofit, federally aligned coordination institution risk losing relevance in future dual-use and national security investment cycles.

Independence Foundry was purpose-built to provide continuity, coordination, and institutional stability during this inflection point.

Leadership

Maurice “Mo” Civers-Davis — Founder

Maurice “Mo” Civers-Davis is a 21+ year military and Department of Defense civilian leader with national-level experience across workforce development, STEM ecosystem building, and federal–academic–industry collaboration.

His background includes:

  • Former Deputy Director, Department of Navy HBCU/MI Program Office at the Office of Naval Research

  • Original architect of NIWC Pacific - Philadelphia’s STEM Program and many regional DoD workforce initiatives in Philadelphia

  • Founder of the first community college pathway into the Navy’s HBCU/MI Internship Program

  • Certified Leadership & Performance Coach

  • National convener of federal, academic, and industry stakeholders

This background uniquely positions him to lead an institution operating at the intersection of federal mission, workforce development, and regional ecosystem coordination.

Looking Ahead

Over the next 12–18 months, Independence Foundry will:

  • Expand its Future Force Forum series

  • Execute its Defense Talent Workshop series

  • Launch its Regional Defense & Dual-Use Technology Summit

  • Formalize multi-university and industry working groups

  • Scale its DoD-aligned talent and technology coordination role

Governance and Early Advisory Development

Independence Foundry is actively establishing its:

  • Founding Advisory Bench

  • Academic Advisory Network

  • Industry & Workforce Advisory Partners

These groups provide strategic guidance, mission alignment, and long-term institutional governance.

Call To Action

Independence Foundry is a regional institution built for national security relevance.

Become a Founding Partner.

Become A Founding Partner