The TechConnect Critical Technologies Challenge: Energy and Resilience is an open innovation program aimed at accelerating transformative technologies in alignment with U.S. national priorities and critical technologies. This initiative is designed to address energy and resilience challenges, transforming them into opportunities that align with strategic priorities for national, societal, and economic security. The challenge invites innovators to participate in the nation's largest pooling of federal, private, and corporate funding and acceleration opportunities, offering a platform to pitch solutions to key industry, investment, and government decision-makers and funders.

The challenge focuses on a variety of areas of interest, including energy storage systems, operational energy and logistics, remote and portable power, nuclear modernization, smart grid and decentralized energy, cybersecurity for critical infrastructure, AI for energy management, smart cities and urban environments, urban air mobility, future mobility and transportation, and disaster preparation and management. Innovators with cutting-edge, commercially viable technologies are encouraged to apply, including those from university and research labs with actionable intellectual property and spinouts, startups seeking investment, licensing, or partnering actions, and federal awardees from programs such as SBIR, OTA, DARPA, ARPAE, ARPAH, and BARDA.

To participate, applicants must submit their technology for review. Selected participants will be invited to pitch their solutions to a panel of investment, industry, and national security leadership at the TechConnect conference, held at the Gaylord National Hotel and Convention Center in National Harbor, MD. Finalists will be notified in June and must confirm their participation through a registration or showcase fee as indicated upon notification. The pitch dates are scheduled for November 19-21, 2025.

The challenge provides an opportunity for participants to connect directly with leadership representing over $8 billion in annual emerging technology funding through SBIR and OTA contract offices and vehicles. Participants can position themselves and their innovations at the forefront of industry transformation, influencing the direction of policy, funding, and development. This event is produced by TechConnect, a division of ATI, and is part of the nation's largest innovation matchmaking program aligned with national technology priorities and federal funding opportunities.

For questions regarding the challenge, interested parties can contact Emma Mooney at emma.mooney@techconnect.org. The deadline for submissions is June 20, with finalists being notified in June. The event will take place in November 2025, offering a global stage for innovators to present their solutions. Participants are encouraged to seize this opportunity to shape the conversation and access significant funding and acceleration opportunities.