The Origin: Who Was George Heilmeier?
George H. Heilmeier was an engineer, innovator, and former director of DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency). Best known for his work in liquid crystal displays (LCDs), Heilmeier’s true legacy may be in the simple but powerful framework he introduced to evaluate research proposals: the Heilmeier Catechism.
He asked a fundamental question: How do we decide what’s worth funding? The answer became a set of clear, practical questions that have shaped innovation across government, academia, and industry.
The Purpose of the Catechism
The Heilmeier Catechism is a set of nine guiding questions designed to assess the merit, feasibility, and impact of a proposed project. It forces clarity; something that’s often missing in early-stage innovation.
Instead of dense jargon or vague aspirations, the catechism demands real answers:
- What are you trying to do?
- How is it done today?
- What's new about your approach?
- If you're successful, what difference will it make?
These aren’t just checkpoints, they’re thought tools to sharpen ideas and cut through the fog of ambition.
Why It Still Matters Today
Despite being decades old, the Heilmeier Catechism has aged incredibly well. In fact, it’s more relevant than ever.
- For startups, it brings discipline to pitching and product strategy.
- For researchers, it aligns proposals with real-world impact.
- For funders, it offers a quick way to assess value without getting lost in hype.
It’s not just a framework, it’s a filter for meaningful innovation.
Simple Questions, Big Ideas
Heilmeier believed in the power of asking the right questions. This isn’t about bureaucracy. It’s about intellectual honesty. When used well, the Catechism doesn’t constrain creativity; it channels it toward results.
From DARPA to Modern Innovation
DARPA used this approach to back some of the most ambitious projects of the last 50 years. Today, it’s used by NASA, NSF, startups, think tanks, and even corporate innovation teams.
It’s the rare tool that helps both dreamers and decision-makers speak the same language.