GREEN ARMY TECH
the climate and clean tech topic area. While this is only a sample of clean tech solutions that could be available to the Army, this number demonstrates how technology on a broad scale now prior- itizes climate change mitigation.
“Almost 25% of xTechPrime submissions fell under the climate and clean tech category,” Willis said. “Tis data point reflects how high priority clean tech is for both industry and the Army. Te xTechPrime competition, among other ASA(ALT)-led efforts, help create synergies between the two to negate the Army’s contri- butions to climate change.”
Te competition announced 24 small businesses as finalists in November 2023, with seven offering climate and clean tech solu- tions. Te finalists advanced to the xTechPrime finals event in mid-December, where the program announced three climate and clean tech winners: ATOMICS Inc., AxNano and GDI.
With xTech wins under their belts—which included $40,000 in cash prizes, the opportunity to submit for a Direct to Phase II Army SBIR contract worth up to $1.9 million and partnerships with prime defense contractors—these climate and clean tech winners have made critical gains toward success.
LOOKING AHEAD ASA(ALT) programs lead the way in finding and using clean technologies for the Army, ensuring Soldiers have a strategic edge. Army subject matter experts who serve as evaluators for both Army SBIR and xTech are consistently impressed by the technol- ogy advancements made by nontraditional innovators working to combat climate change.
Peter Reynolds, Ph.D., a senior research scientist at the Army Research Office, a directorate of DEVCOM Army Research Laboratory, is a frequent xTech and Army SBIR evaluator. Reyn- olds noted that many of the solutions were impressive in terms of taking on riskier, yet potentially game-changing, approaches. He cited one proposal, which addresses improved efficiency of solar cells that could reduce logistical burdens on deployed troops for their energy needs, while also having impacts on society-at-large to decrease reliance on fossil fuels. While not every Army SBIR or xTech proposal promises to be game-changing, Reynolds sees possibilities in the near future of clean tech for Army application.
“It is refreshing to see that many of the xTech proposals I’m seeing are building off of basic research that the Army has been investing in for 10, 20 and even more years, and to see that this research is now bearing fruit,” Reynolds said.
https://asc.ar my.mil 55
Paczkowski also serves as an evaluator for Army SBIR and xTech proposals, using his expertise to score the top proposals in indus- try. Troughout his proposal evaluations for both programs, Paczkowski noted that he is constantly impressed by the breadth and range of solutions provided by the small business commu- nity—within the clean tech space and beyond. For the future of clean tech, Paczkowski is looking forward to seeing developments in one key area. “As technologies and requirements continue to develop, I would expect to see significantly more headway in the electrification space across all of the Army’s systems, from Soldier power to ground vehicles, to aircraft and everything in between,” Paczkowski said.
CONCLUSION While solutions to mitigate climate change have the future of the planet in mind, this does not mean that climate change is a future problem—it is a current challenge that requires action. ASA(ALT) remains committed to leading the Army through a technological evolution by tapping into the ingenuity of nontra- ditional innovators.
“Army SBIR and xTech view clean tech as not a stamp in time, but as an evolvement and continued effort to evaluate new tech- nologies from the best in industry,” Willis said. “Te programs have a unique opportunity to support the Army Climate Strat- egy through untapped resources, while also contributing to a safer and cleaner world at large.”
For more information on the Army SBIR|STTR Program, go to
www.armysbir.army.mil. For more information on the xTech Program, go to
www.xtech.army.mil.
ANNA VOLKWINE provides contract support to the Office
of Army Prize Competitions and Army Applied
SBIR Program for Booz Allen Hamilton. She holds a B.A. in communications from Mount St. Mary’s University.
DANIEL SMOOT provides contract support to the Office of Army Prize Competitions and Army Applied SBIR Program for Booz Allen Hamilton. He holds a B.S. in writing from Towson University.
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