NOVEMBER 19-21, 2025 | NATIONAL HARBOR, MD
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The TechConnect Critical Technology Challenges represent six targeted innovation tracks aligned with U.S. national priorities and designed to accelerate breakthroughs in critical domains. Through an open innovation model, each Challenge invites innovators to present transformative solutions, connecting them with federal, private, and corporate funding—over $8 billion annually in emerging tech channels.
The Challenges drive transformational ideas across defense, commercial, and dual-use sectors; provide a global stage to pitch innovations to industry, government, and investors; and leverage synergies across Challenges to shape national strategy and funding.
For defense primes, government partners, and industry leaders, the TechConnect Critical Technology Challenges provide a direct channel to discover and shape the technologies driving tomorrow’s mission capabilities. Each Challenge aligns with national priorities—spanning advanced materials, energy and resilience, biotech, electronics, and autonomy—and delivers curated access to innovators vetted for technical merit, scalability, and defense relevance.
Through the Challenges, TechConnect and ATI bridge private-sector innovation with government mission needs—creating a proven pathway from discovery to deployment across dual-use and defense domains.
Space Technology
Accelerates innovation for space operations, with a focus on in-space manufacturing, satellite communications, and space power integration—enhancing sustainability, scalability, and resilience.
Advanced Electronics
Targets breakthroughs in microelectronics, high-power systems, quantum devices, integrated sensing, and communications technologies.
Autonomy, AI, and Cyber
Focuses on autonomous systems, AI-driven solutions, cybersecurity for critical infrastructure, robotics, counter-UAS, and analytics. 
Energy and Resilience
Aims to bolster energy security and grid resilience via breakthroughs in energy storage, smart grids, disaster response, AI for energy management, and sustainable power generation. 
Biotech and Health Security
Encourages innovations in diagnostics, vaccine platforms, biopharma manufacturing, bio-security, wearable sensing, and CBRN protection.
Materials and Manufacturing
Drives solutions in additive manufacturing, rare-earth materials, nanotech, in-space manufacturing, biomaterials, and resilient manufacturing processes.
Each TechConnect Challenge transforms national priorities into open innovation opportunities—offering innovators unparalleled access to funding, exposure, and impact. To explore your domain further, click on an area above to dive into detailed challenge goals, areas of interest, submission criteria, and upcoming deadlines.
