Uploaded May 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
https://www.darpa.mil/news/podcast/what-is-in-a-name-93
What does it take to solve the world's most urgent national security and economic challenges? At DARPA, it starts with questioning past assumptions. In this episode, we go behind the scenes of a major organizational pivot to hear directly from the office leaders driving the change.
We unpack the "why" behind the new names on the doors of two tech offices:
The Multi X Office (MXO): Formerly the Microsystems Technology Office (MTO), MXO is breaking down the walls between physics, chemistry, biology, and materials science. Learn how this integrated approach aims to secure critical supply chains and build resilient physical capabilities.
The Information Processing Techniques Office (IPTO): Reaching back to a legendary name from DARPA’s history, the former Information Innovation Office (I2O) is focusing on the first principles of computational power and resiliency that will be required to invent the next forward-looking breakthrough technologies for national security.
Listen in to hear how DARPA is retooling its strategy, embracing massive scale, and transforming its structure to secure America's future.
https://www.darpa.mil/news/podcast/what-is-in-a-name-93
What does it take to solve the world's most urgent national security and economic challenges? At DARPA, it starts with questioning past assumptions. In this episode, we go behind the scenes of a major organizational pivot to hear directly from the office leaders driving the change.
We unpack the "why" behind the new names on the doors of two tech offices:
The Multi X Office (MXO): Formerly the Microsystems Technology Office (MTO), MXO is breaking down the walls between physics, chemistry, biology, and materials science. Learn how this integrated approach aims to secure critical supply chains and build resilient physical capabilities.
The Information Processing Techniques Office (IPTO): Reaching back to a legendary name from DARPA’s history, the former Information Innovation Office (I2O) is focusing on the first principles of computational power and resiliency that will be required to invent the next forward-looking breakthrough technologies for national security.
Listen in to hear how DARPA is retooling its strategy, embracing massive scale, and transforming its structure to secure America's future.




![CRYSTAL: Crystal Substrate Bonding Technologies and Algorithms - Advanced Research Concept
https://www.darpa.mil/research/programs/crystal-substrate-bonding
Bonded single crystal thin film multi-functional materials (electro-optic, acousto-electric, acousto-optic, magneto-optic or multi-ferroic materials) are vital for diverse sensing and communications technologies (integrated quantum, photonic, terahertz [THz], radio frequency [RF], and actuator platforms).
Wafer bonding onto compatible substrates is the critical step for integrating single crystal thin films into multi-functional devices and systems. There is currently no method to analytically investigate wafer bonding processes.
The ability to predictively model wafer bonding of thin film crystals would rapidly accelerate the research and development of multi-functional materials, and their fabrication and scalable integration in diverse applications.
This ARC Opportunity is soliciting ideas to explore the following question: To accelerate development and integration of multi-functional materials, how do we create generalizable models to explore thin film crystal bonding onto suitable substrates under diverse real-world process conditions and parameters? CRYSTAL: Crystal Substrate Bonding Technologies and Algorithms - Advanced Research Concept](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/e_rHSXYV_u0/mqdefault.jpg)





