The U.S. Army xTech Program, led by the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology, launched the fourth iteration of its international competition series — xTechInternational — on Jan. 31.
The competition provides a forum for innovators across the globe to share their novel science and technology concepts with the Department of Defense. It will also help the Army better understand how commercial technologies from international innovators can solve its toughest mission challenges.
xTechInternational will award up to $500,000 total in cash prizes to eligible international small to medium-sized businesses, as well as international academic and research institutions with solutions addressing critical U.S. defense efforts, including AI for intelligence and decision-making applications (swarm algorithms, autonomous systems, UAS and c-UAS, etc.); quantum sensing and materials; and indigenous materials forward.
In addition to cash prizes, participants will receive feedback on their technology solutions from U.S. and international defense experts, with potential opportunities for training, mentorship and networking via the xTech Accelerator Program. The competition will tentatively host an in-person finals event outside of the U.S. in August 2024, where a judging panel will select and announce up to five winners.
ASA(ALT) partnered with the U.S. Army Futures Command, U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command, and the U.S. Office of Naval Research Global to deliver the xTechInternational competition, and to increase engagements with global S&T industry and defense leaders.
For more information on xTechInternational, including the prize structure, visit the competition page on the xTech website. Eligible participants must submit their concept white papers by March 7, 2024.