The U.S. Army is getting out of its comfort zone and wants to see the best technology out there from small businesses/start-ups.
Recently, the U.S. Army launched its first ever Expeditionary Technology Search, or xTechSearch, with prizes ranging from $1,000 to $200,000. Prizes increase during each successive round with a potential for up to 25 finalists being invited to participate in a major national event in Washington, D.C. where they can directly engage with Department of Army officials, industry partners and academia.
The U.S. Army is using xTechSearch as a catalyst for the Army to engage with the non-defense traditional business sector, driving American innovation for Army challenges and modernization efforts and spurring economic growth. Aimed at attracting game-changing innovation, xTechSearch will make additional access for small business entrepreneurs to pitch novel technology solutions directly to Army leadership.
Dr. Bruce Jette, Assistant Secretary of the Army (Acquisition, Logistics and Technology), launched the nation-wide competition to revolutionize the way the Army attracts and encourages innovation.
“Our Army of the future must be ready to deploy, fight and win decisively against any adversary, anytime and anywhere, in a joint, multi-domain, high-intensity conflict, while simultaneously deterring others and maintaining its ability to conduct irregular warfare,” he said.
The Army recently identified its six modernization priority lines of efforts as Long-Range Precision Fires, Next Generation Combat Vehicle, Future Vertical Lift, The Army Network, Air and Missile Defense and Increasing Soldier Lethality.
xTechSearch will host its competitive outreach events across the country to engage with American innovators and spur the development of leap-ahead technologies for the Army of the Future. The Army will provide cash prizes for the companies to demonstrate proof of concept for their technology in an Army-relevant challenge area.
HOW TO PARTICIPATE: The Army is looking for proposals aligned to its modernization priorities: https://www.challenge.gov/
NEXT STEP: If you make it through the first round, you will be invited to pitch in person to some of the Army’s top scientists, engineers, program managers and Soldiers at one of the following locations of your choiceU.S. Army Research Laboratory in Adelphi, Maryland or one of its regional locations in Austin, Texas; Boston, Massachusetts; Chicago, Illinois; and Playa Vista, California.
MORE INFORMATION:
Phase I
•June 15, 2018. Publish Request for Information with target technology areas and outreach events.
•July 11, 2018. Deadline for proposal submissions.
Phase II
•July 23, 2018. Adelphi Regional Semifinalists notified and invited to Tech Pitches.
•Week of July 30. Adelphi xTechSearch panel. Venue: ARL Open Campus, Adelphi, Maryland.
•July 30, 2018. Austin Regional Semifinalists notified and invited to Tech Pitches.
•Week of August 6-10. Austin xTechSearch panel. Venue: ARL South Campus, Austin, Texas.
•August 6, 2018. Chicago Regional Semifinalists notified and invited to Tech Pitches.
•Week of August 13-17. Chicago xTechSearch panel. Venue: ARL Central Campus, Chicago, Illinois.
•August 13, 2018. Boston Regional Semifinalists notified and invited to Tech Pitches.
•Week of August 20-24. Boston xTechSearch panel. Venue: ARL Northeast Campus, Boston, Massachusetts.
•August 20, 2018. Playa Vista Regional Semifinalists notified and invited to Tech Pitches.
•Week of August 27-31. Playa Vista xTechSearch panel. Venue: ARL West Campus, Playa Vista, California.
Phase III
•September 17, 2018. Phase III finalists notified and invited to AUSA annual meeting.
•October 8-10, 2018. Phase III AUSA Innovators’ Corner, Washington, D.C.
Phase IV
•April 2019. Capstone demonstration with senior Army leadership.
QUESTIONS: More information on xTechSearch is available at https://www.challenge.gov/