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Expeditionary Technology Search

Monday, July 30, 2018

Provided by the Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Research and Technology

What is it?

Expeditionary Technology Search (xTechSearch) is a prize competition sponsored by the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology. xTechSearch is aimed at attracting game-changing innovation, and will pitch novel technology solutions directly to Army leadership.

What has the Army done / is doing?

The ASA(ALT) recognizes that the Army must enhance engagements with American innovators in the entrepreneurial community, small businesses, and other non-traditional defense partners. xTechSearch is a four phased competition offering $1.95 million in prizes to discover innovative technology that will support the Army’s modernization priorities. The phases are:

  • Phase I: Concept White Paper Contest - All eligible contestants complete a concept paper outlining their knowledge, skills, capabilities and approach for this challenge.
  • Phase II: xTechSearch Technology Pitches – Up to 125 selected contestants complete an in-person Technology pitch to a panel of Army and Department of Defense subject matter experts and judges at select locations across the United States.
  • Phase III: AUSA Innovators’ Corner - Up to 25 selected xTechSearch semifinalists will be featured at the AUSA Innovators’ Corner at the AUSA national meeting, 8-10 October 2018 in Washington, D.C.
  • Phase IV: xTechSearch Capstone Demonstration - Up to 12 selected xTechSearch finalists will demonstrate proof-of-concept for their technology solution to DoD, government, and industry leadership to determine the winner.

What continued efforts does the Army have planned?

There are approximately 23 million companies in the United States and the Army generally, only does business with around 5,000 of them. The Army will proactively and aggressively engage with innovators to see what new ideas, concepts, systems and sub-system components they can bring to the table.

xTechSearch seeks to spur development of leap-ahead technologies for the Army of the Future by identifying paradigm breaking technologies in alignment with the Army’s modernization priorities:

Why is this important to the Army?

Strategic land power dominance is critical to the Army for prompt, sustained, and synchronized operations with a force customized to the mission and poised to win in all domains. For the imaginable future, the nation’s landpower dominance will continue to rely on significant science and technology advances to ensure a competitive advantage. The Army will look for opportunities to accelerate innovation and to deliver advanced technologies to arm the Soldiers to win decisively.

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Events

August 2018

Aug. 26: Women’s Equality Day - Visit Women in the U.S. Army

September 2018

National Preparedness Month

Sept. 11: Patriot Day

Sept. 15- Oct. 15: Hispanic Heritage Month - Visit Hispanics in the U.S. Army

Sept. 30: Gold Star Mothers Day - Visit Gold Star Survivors

Focus Quote for the Day

Having come from industry and knowing the challenges associated with entering ‘the process’, we must proactively and aggressively engage with innovators to see what new ideas, concepts, systems and sub-system components they can bring to the table.

- Dr. Bruce Jette, Assistant Secretary of the Army (Acquisition, Logistics and Technology), speaks about xtechSearch, a nation-wide competition to revolutionize the way the Army attracts and encourages innovation.