diff --git a/.github/dependabot.yml b/.github/dependabot.yml
index 98310a719..0e555797a 100644
--- a/.github/dependabot.yml
+++ b/.github/dependabot.yml
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ updates:
 
 # The release branch(es):
   - package-ecosystem: "gomod"
-    target-branch: release-0.17
+    target-branch: release-0.18
     directories:
     - "/"
     # We don't update development or test dependencies on release branches
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ updates:
         - k8s.io/klog/*
 
   - package-ecosystem: "docker"
-    target-branch: release-0.17
+    target-branch: release-0.18
     directories:
     # CUDA image
     - "/deployments/container"
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ updates:
     - maintenance
 
   - package-ecosystem: "github-actions"
-    target-branch: release-0.17
+    target-branch: release-0.18
     directory: "/"
     schedule:
       interval: "weekly"
diff --git a/versions.mk b/versions.mk
index bb526ac82..5a69c12e2 100644
--- a/versions.mk
+++ b/versions.mk
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ MODULE := github.com/NVIDIA/$(DRIVER_NAME)
 
 REGISTRY ?= nvcr.io/nvidia
 
-VERSION ?= v0.18.0
+VERSION ?= v0.19.0-dev
 
 GOLANG_VERSION := $(shell ./hack/golang-version.sh)