AFWERX

Cerebral Energy has been selected by AFWERX for a Phase II STTR follow-on contract in the amount of $1.6 million to support further development of a new lithium-free secondary battery using recycled aluminum and graphene derived from recycled US waste streams. The novel aluminum battery design, developed by Dr. Lynden Archer, Dean of the School of Engineering at Cornell University, and licensed by Cerebral, is more efficient than lithium, much safer, faster charging and has no supply chain challenges being derived from US waste streams. Known as "AGILE," the batteries will first support Air Force Special Operations Command medical modernization teams to address their pressing tactical power issues. Read more: https://ow.ly/70S650T7YiA . . . #AFWERX #AFVentures #STTR #battery #recycle #innovation #technology #government #AFSOC #academia

Members from across AFWERX met in person for a process improvement off-site event to focus on making critical changes to the Open Topic program. The two-day exercise incorporated AFWERX cross-divisional teams to address the solicitation schedule, automation needs and additional requirements. One of the main outcomes from the off- site was an adjustment to the annual Open Topic schedule. For fiscal year 2025 only, three set solicitations will be offered starting with a Phase I in September followed by two Phase IIs and Direct to Phase IIs in February and May 2025. “Moving to this schedule will allow our teams time in between solicitations for assessment and process improvement that we can incorporate into the next offering,” said Daniel Carroll, AFWERX AFVentures division chief. “By aligning our internal schedule closer to the Department of Defense annual schedule, we also have more flexibility and availability to support emerging DAF needs.” Learn more about these changes here: https://ow.ly/AugB50T7XV1 . . . #AFWERX #AFVentures #OpenTopic #funding #annualschedule #SBIR #STTR #DAF

🗞️ JUST IN: The 24.4/D Specific Topic pre-release will begin in one week! The pre-release period provides an opportunity for those interested in applying to directly connect with subject matter experts and ask technical questions about specific topics posted under this solicitation to prepare for their submission. Be sure to take some time and familiarize yourself with the Specific Topic program before the pre-release begins: https://ow.ly/AGQQ50T3jgV More information to come next week! . . . #AFWERX #AFVentures #SpecificTopic #funding #opportunity #SBIR #STTR #innovation #technology #USAF #USSF #DAF #DoD

Tesseract, the Air Force Office of Logistics Innovation, in partnership with Technergetics, has received a TACFI to advance the development of their RAWHIDE and JI-JOE systems - allowing the software suite to be deployed to the Air Force Cloud One and conducting operational pilots at Air Force installations over the next year. Learn more below. . . . #AFWERX #AFVentures #TACFI #software #innovation #technology

Transformative growth was on full display at the fourth annual Air Force Materiel Command Continuous Improvement and Innovation Training Summit, Aug. 13-15 at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. Hosted by the Air Force Materiel Command Commander's Accelerated Initiatives Office (CDX), this year’s event theme was “The Power of Integration,” and brought together nearly 200 leaders, practitioners, and experts from across the United States Department of the Air Force fostering a culture where every Airman is encouraged to identify opportunities for improvement, think creatively, and develop solutions that drive the United States Air Force mission forward. Our AFWERX team held a number of sessions at the event, helping participants gain valuable tools and strategies to tackle current and future challenges to drive American Ingenuity. Read more about this event: https://ow.ly/La0s50T6Tyj . . . #AFWERX #Spark #Innovation #AFMC #event #government #collaboration #USAF #Airmen #DAF

What an amazing week our AFWERX and SpaceWERX teams had at Fed Supernova in Austin last week! 🔥 We participated as speakers on sessions related to AI, Space Innovation, Government Relationships and the crucial role our programs play expanding the capabilities of the United States Department of the Air Force. We also held Office Hours to meet with innovative founders and entrepreneurs looking to get involved with our programs, and announced the latest SpaceWERX STRATFI awards! 🏆 Also held this week were memorable sessions like our Challenge Showcase and Spark Collider Showcase, Project Vanguard, and VC Roundtable, where small businesses and venture capitalists met DAF customers ready to partner to solve real problem sets facing the United States Department of Defense. Find more information about our programs and available opportunities here: https://ow.ly/mcFF50T6SKl . . . #AFWERX #SpaceWERX #FedSupernova2024 #entrepreneur #government #smallbusiness #technology #innovation #space #nationaldefense #DOD

AFWERX Autonomy Prime partner, SandboxAQ, announced it was awarded a SBIR Phase 2B Tactical Funding Increase (TACFI) by the United States Air Force to further develop its dual-use AQNav magnetic navigation (MagNav) system, enabling SandboxAQ and Autonomy Prime to explore additional configurations of the core AQNav architecture for deployment on a wider range of aircraft platforms, including unmanned aerial systems. “AFWERX is expanding the MagNav capability through SandboxAQ to rapidly enable critical operations in denied environments,” said Lt Col Josh Fehd, AFWERX Autonomy Prime Branch Chief. “The rapid development and deployment of MagNav technology is imperative for the USAF to ensure a strategic advantage over our peer adversaries, enable mission continuity, and improve the safety of our warfighters and infrastructure when facing the denial or degradation of critical GPS systems.” Read more: https://ow.ly/jfki50T3W35 . . . #AFWERX #Prime #AutonomyPrime #UAS #navigation #SBIR #TACFI #USAF #AMC #collaboration #innovation #technology

AFWERX Autonomy Prime partners Joby and Reliable Robotics demonstrated how autonomous aviation can contribute to the Agile Combat Employment concept by flying daily autonomous logistics missions during the United States Air Force exercise AGILE FLAG 24-3 at Mojave Air and Space Port, California, Aug. 5-9, 2024. During AGILE FLAG, the 23rd Wing from Moody Air Force Base and the 9th Reconnaissance Wing from Beale Air Force Base tested their ability to generate combat air power while maneuvering and sustaining their forces in dynamic, contested environments across California and other locations in the western United States. Both wings used Joby and Reliable Robotics' autonomous flight technology, which allows a Cessna 208B Grand Caravan aircraft to taxi, take off, fly to a destination and land independently to deliver cargo such as aircraft parts and supplies. The aircraft can fly roughly 1,150 miles with 1,200 pounds of cargo. Learn more about this exercise here: https://ow.ly/xR4250T6pGb . . . #AFWERX #Prime #AutonomyPrime #autonomousflight #ACE #futureofflight #innovation #technology

Do you have questions about the PY25.1 STRATFI Notice of Opportunity documents? The STRATFI team holds Ask-Me-Anything (AMA) webinars at 1:00pm ET every Thursday to review the documents and answer your questions about the submission process. Join us this Thursday, August 29: 💻 https://ow.ly/3NBo50T3iSi 📱 ‪(US) +1 352-973-0183‬ PIN: ‪466 060 759‬# View the Notice of Opportunity documents here under “Resources”: https://ow.ly/VFy450T3iSj . . . #AFWERX #SpaceWERX #Ventures #STRATFI #NoticeofOpportunity #funding #opportunity #SBIR #STTR #innovation #technology #USAF #USSF #DAF

AFWERX has selected Haiku, Inc for a STTR Phase II contract in the amount of $1.8 million to focus on the company’s patented Unity-based game platform to tackle cybersecurity training challenges. The contract features a strategic collaboration between Haiku and National University, as the college leads the development of a hands-on cybersecurity curriculum, blending theoretical knowledge with practical skills. Read more: https://ow.ly/RlFP50SZuP2 . . . #AFWERX #AFVentures #USAF #DAF #DoD #STTR #PhaseII #contract #cybersecurity #technology #innovation