A distinguished panel of commercial drone companies provide perspectives on the opportunities and challenges in developing drone technology for the DOW.

In today’s defense environment, mission readiness and military wellbeing rely on more than equipment or training -they depend on the condition and responsiveness of the environments where service members live, work, and train. This session explores how military installations are leveraging Intergovernmental Support Agreements (IGSAs) to rapidly address infrastructure challenges and unlock new opportunities for innovation. From mold remediation to smart barracks modernization, IGSAs are enabling installations to deliver timely, compliant, and impactful improvements that directly affect the health, morale, and performance of the force. Installation leaders are collaborating with innovative government partners like Sourcewell and industry partners like Johnson Controls to bring forward-thinking solutions - like smart building systems and rapid facility upgrades - into the heart of mission operations.

America’s ability to compete globally depends on how effectively we move breakthrough technologies from research and development labs into real-world markets. SBIR and STTR programs play a critical role in de-risking early research, however, many U.S. deep-tech companies struggle during the transition from TRL 3–7 (the “valley of death”) where technical validation must meet commercial traction, manufacturing readiness, and investor expectations. This panel gives early-stage deep-tech entrepreneurs a clear roadmap for moving from SBIR-funded research to real traction. Experts from the Wisconsin Center for Technology Commercialization (CTC), Army FUZE, and a critical technology-focused (SBICCT) early venture investment manager, AE Industrial Partners—AE Ventures, break down how to win early non-dilutive funding, secure first pilots or DoW demo opportunities, avoid common TRL 3-7, and understand what investors look for at the earliest stages. Founders will leave with practical guidance on how to turn prototypes into pilots—and pilots into investable companies with an emphasis on how federal R&D, commercialization support, and private capital form a true innovation continuum.

Visit with SBIR/STTR Federal Agencies and learn more about areas of interest for small businesses and universities

Gain insight into the role major primes play in acquisition programs and how R&D from other businesses transitions into those programs.

Visit with participating SBIR/STTR Federal Agencies and Defense Primes to discuss funding opportunities for small businesses and universities

View the posters and raise a glass to the poster presenters! Complimentary drink tickets will be available.

Participants in the Workshop will leave with an understanding of the requirements and knowledge of and access to tools that they can use to meet the obligations to protect the DoD information they will either receive or generate as part of the SBIR process.

The Defense TechConnect (DTC) Critical Technology Spotlights are designed to accelerate private-sector and defense-sourced technology solutions aligned with warfighter and national security problem-sets.

Getting smart city projects off the ground often depends less on the technology itself and more on the process behind how it’s purchased. Traditional procurement can slow down innovation, but cities are finding new ways to streamline, collaborate, and align purchasing with long-term goals. This workshop will explore practical approaches to “smart procurement,” from building stronger partnerships with vendors to creating flexible frameworks that keep pace with rapid change. Participants will walk away with strategies, tools, and examples they can apply right away to make procurement a driver—rather than a barrier—of innovation.

As cities pursue smart and sustainable futures, small businesses remain the core of economic resilience—yet often the last to benefit from digital transformation. This hands-on workshop helps city leaders, chambers, nonprofits, and innovation partners identify where they are in their digital journey and build collaborative strategies that make technology work for everyone. Participants will explore HUUB’s Right Tool, Right Time framework alongside the new Digital Capacity Diagnostic—a practical tool that aligns local capacity, partnerships, and readiness with appropriate technology pathways. Through real-world case studies, peer discussion, and structured exercises, attendees will leave with a clear understanding of how to balance quick wins with long-term investments, and a roadmap on how to implement human-centered, automated digital tools for impactful small business support.