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Submissions are closed; the 2025 event took place June 9-11, 2025 in Austin, TX. The stored deadline of 2026-12-15 does not match — this was a 2025 competition.
TechConnect Critical Technology Challenge: Artificial Intelligence is a grant from TechConnect, in partnership with various federal agencies, that funds innovative AI and digital transformation solutions aligned with U.S. national security, societal, and economic priorities.
The program is an extension of TechConnect's 25-year Innovation Challenge and provides participants with the opportunity to pitch to key industry, government, and investment decision-makers at a global conference (June 9-11, 2025 in Austin, TX). Participants gain direct access to leadership representing over billion in annual emerging technology funding through SBIR and Other Transaction Authority mechanisms.
Eligible applicants include small businesses, university spin-offs, and independent innovators. Awards range from ,000 to ,000. The application deadline is December 15, 2026.
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TechConnect Critical Technology Challenge: Artificial Intelligence JUNE 9-11, 2025 | AUSTIN, TX Visas and Invitation Letters Instructions for Technical Presenters 2025 Innovation Challenges 2025 Sponsors and Partners Sponsorship Opportunities 2025 Sponsors and Partners Nanotech 2025 Conference and Expo SBIR/STTR Spring Innovation Conference Addressing Critical Technologies and National Priorities Transforming Artificial Intelligence Challenges into Opportunities.
In alignment with U.S. National Priorities and Critical Technologies, TechConnect is proud to announce its new Critical Technologies Challenge. The Critical Technology Challenge is an open innovation program designed to accelerate transformative technologies in lockstep with rapidly evolving strategic priorities for national, societal, and economic security.
The Critical Technology Challenge is an extension of TechConnect's 25+ year Innovation Challenge, now with a formal alignment with national technology priority areas. Accelerate your Critical Innovations: Participate in the nation’s largest pooling of federal, private, and corporate funding and acceleration opportunities!
Pitch on a Global Stage – Present your solution to key industry, investment and government decision-makers and funders. Access Funders – Connect directly with leadership representing over $8 Billion in annual emerging technology funding through SBIR and OTA contract offices and vehicles.
Shape the Conversation – Position yourself and your innovation at the forefront of the industry’s transformation, influencing the direction of policy, funding, and development. Have a solution? Join the Challenge and help power the next generation of AI innovation.
AI for Critical Technologies Data Analytics and Solutions Autonomous Systems and Robotics Cybersecurity for Critical Infrastructure Our industry and government tech scouts seek cutting-edge, commercially viable innovations, including technologies from: University and research labs with actionable IP and spinouts; startups seeking investment, licensing, partnering actions; and Federal awardees (i.e., SBIR, OTA DARPA.
ARPAE, ARPAH, BARDA). Submit your technology for review. If selected, you will confirm your position and pitch to a panel of investment, industry, and national security leadership in Austin, Texas at the conference.
TechConnect will notify finalists in early April. Selected companies must confirm their participation through either a registration or showcase fee, as indicated upon notification. Pitch dates: June 9-11, 2025 Challenge location: JW Marriott | Austin, TX Questions?
Please contact Emma Mooney: emma. mooney@techconnect. org 2025 SBIR/STTR AGENCY PARTNERS Visas and Invitational Letters Instructions For Technical Presenters 2025 Innovation Challenges 2025 Sponsors and Partners Sponsorship Opportunities 2025 Sponsors and Parnters
According to the current listing, eligibility includes: Small businesses, university spin-offs, and independent innovators. Confirm the full requirements in the official notice before applying.
The current listing shows $10,000 - $50,000. Verify award ceilings, matching requirements, and allowable costs in the official notice.
Applications for TechConnect Critical Technology Challenge: Artificial Intelligence are due December 15, 2026. Build your timeline backwards from this date to cover registrations, approvals, and final submission checks.
TechConnect Critical Technology Challenge: Artificial Intelligence is funded by TechConnect (in partnership with various federal agencies). Verify program details on the funder's official page before applying.
Yes — this listing is flagged as national in scope, so applicants across the U.S. may apply, subject to the sponsor's other eligibility criteria.
Start from the official opportunity page linked in this listing — it carries the sponsor's submission instructions.
NVIDIA Graduate Fellowship Program is a grant from NVIDIA providing up to $60,000 per award to PhD students conducting research that advances accelerated computing and its applications. Now in its 25th year, the program invites nominations from doctoral students pushing the boundaries of artificial intelligence, robotics, autonomous vehicles, and related fields. Recipients receive not only research funding but also access to NVIDIA technology, products, and engineering expertise, along with a mandatory in-person summer internship. Students are nominated by their faculty advisors and selected based on academic achievement and research area alignment.
NASA STRIDE (Science Transport and Robotic Innovation for Deployment and Exploration) is a grant program from NASA that solicits proposals from U.S. industry to conduct design studies of advanced robotic surface and aerial mobility systems with payload transportation and deployment capability for Mars surface operations. The program supports innovation in robotic mobility systems that could enable future Mars science missions. U.S.-based universities and nonprofit research organizations may also be eligible per the grant record. The application deadline for this cycle was March 31, 2026.
CalSEED Concept Award is a grant from the California Energy Commission that provides $150,000 in funding to early-stage clean energy innovators in California. The program targets individuals, businesses, and nonprofits developing hardware, software, or integrated solutions at Technology Readiness Levels 2-4. Eligible technology areas rotate each cycle and have included battery recycling and reuse, long-duration energy storage, medium- and heavy-duty vehicle electrification, industrial electrification, and advanced EV charging. Applicants must be located in California, have under $1 million in private funding, and propose innovations that benefit California ratepayers. Concept Award winners also receive professional development resources and access to accelerator programs, and may compete for a subsequent $450,000 Prototype Award.
NSF 26-508 will deploy up to $224 million across 56 State/Territory AI Coordination Hubs over three to four years. Each hub gets $1M annually to build an AI Learning Resource Navigator, a state AI readiness plan, deployment support, capacity-building, and priority-sector coordination. The Letter of Intent is due June 16 and the full proposal July 16. Here is what the program is really buying, who is best positioned to win Round 1, and why the no-cost-share rule reshapes the partner landscape.
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