September 22-24, 2026 | NATIONAL HARBOR, MD
View Co-located Events
|
Presented by |
Powered by |
||
|
 |
Advancing Technologies for Faster Detection. Smarter Response. Greater Resilience.
Chemical and biological threats are becoming more diverse, more sophisticated, and increasingly difficult to detect before they impact military operations, critical infrastructure, public health, or civilian populations. Emerging pathogens, engineered biological agents, toxic industrial chemicals, and novel chemical warfare agents demand faster detection, smarter analysis, and more resilient protective capabilities.
The Chem-Bio Threat Detection Innovation Challenge seeks innovative technologies that strengthen detection, characterization, protection, and response across the full spectrum of chemical and biological threats. We are seeking scalable, dual-use solutions that improve preparedness, accelerate operational decision-making, and enhance resilience across defense, homeland security, public health, and emergency response missions.
Finalists will present their technologies live at the Defense TechConnect Innovation Summit before government agencies, industry leaders, investors, and commercialization partners.
AREAS OF INTEREST:
- Biosurveillance and Agent-Agnostic Detection
- Artificial Intelligence and Bioinformatics
- Protective Materials and Decontamination
- Integrated Detection, Sensors, and Situational Awareness
- Synthetic Biology, Biosecurity, and Biomanufacturing
Submit Deadline: August 12
Timeline:
| ⊙ | Informational Webinar: July 29 at 2 pm ET | Register Here |
| ⊙ | Application Due: August 12 |
| ⊙ | Notify Finalists: Late August |
| ⊙ | Pitch and Reception in National Harbor, MD: September 23 |
Award Structure:
| First Place: | $25,000 |
| Second Place: | $15,000 |
| Third Place: | $10,000 |
PITCH TO WIN
Up to ten (10) finalists will present their technologies live at Defense TechConnect Innovation Summit on September 23 in National Harbor, Maryland, where government, defense, homeland security, public health, and industry leaders will evaluate solutions with the potential to strengthen national preparedness, enhance chemical and biological threat detection, and improve operational response across defense and civilian environments.
Finalist Benefits Include:
✓ |
Full conference pass |
✓ |
Visibility before government, defense, industry, and investment leaders evaluating emerging chem-bio technologies |
✓ |
Eligibility for a $50,000 total prize pool |
✓ |
Opportunities to connect with organizations advancing national preparedness, biodefense, and chemical threat detection capabilities |
✓ |
Exposure to potential partners, customers, and commercialization pathways supporting dual-use technology adoption |
Presented by |
Powered by |
|
 |
 |
Presented by  |
Powered by |
  
|
Defense TechConnect convenes the innovation ecosystem advancing national security, bringing together government, industry, investors, and researchers around critical technology priorities.
 |