The Army’s tech pursuit goes global with xTech prize competitions.
by Anna Volkwine
Technology is advancing at a global scale, and the U.S. is no longer the sole leader in defense innovation. More than ever, the U.S. needs its allies and partners to help push the cutting edge of innovation and maintain a competitive technological advantage against adversaries.
In 2024, the Defense Innovation Board (DIB) recommended that the Department of Defense (DOD) strengthen national security through international engagement. In its publication, “Optimizing Innovation Cooperation with Allies and Partners,” the DIB emphasized that integrating allies and partners is crucial for global stability. These collaborations can enhance collective strengths and ensure that the U.S. and allied warfighters have the necessary capabilities for a spectrum of conflict scenarios.
The Army xTech Prize Competition Program, led by the assistant secretary of the Army for acquisition, logistics and technology (ASA(ALT)), utilizes a prize competition model to foster collaboration between the Army and nontraditional innovators. XTech competitions offer non-dilutive cash prizes, along with feedback, mentorship and networking opportunities with Army customers. Since its inception in 2018, xTech has launched nearly 40 competitions.
While these competitions primarily focus on U.S.-based nontraditional innovators, xTech also fosters collaboration with international innovators through a successful global competition series launched in 2021.
Through its international tech-discovery competition series, the program addresses a critical barrier highlighted by the DIB, which is that “key allies and partners are kept at bay and lack formal pathways toward integration with U.S. capabilities.”
“Our international alliances are bound by a common interest in national security and bolstered by shared innovation,” said Chris Manning, deputy assistant secretary of the Army for research and technology (DASA(R&T)). “By tapping into unique capabilities and leveraging global partnerships through xTech’s international competitions, the Army develops solutions to some of our most pressing challenges and helps ensure a secure future for the U.S. and our allies.”
THE INTERNATIONAL PRIZE
The xTech Program’s international competitions offer a platform for global innovators to share defense-capable technologies with the DOD. The series, which began in 2021 with the xTechGlobal AI (artificial intelligence) Challenge, promotes joint innovation and research and development (R&D) between the Army and top technology innovators from partner nations, enhancing U.S. defense capabilities.
Between 2022 and 2024, xTech launched and concluded three more international competitions that focused on various technology areas ranging from AI, advanced manufacturing and materials, power and energy, synthetic bio and quantum. These four competitions have collectively offered over $1.7 million in cash prizes, giving international innovators the financial support needed to develop their solutions alongside U.S. partners.
Many international entities also gain opportunities for follow-on agreements through networking and connections made during the competitions, such as the Foreign Technology Assessment Support (FTAS) program and Cooperative Research and Development Agreements (CRADAs).
The international competitions offer finalists another xTech staple—the Accelerator Program. This cohort-based program provides mentorship, networking and business development opportunities. The accelerators are tailored to offer meaningful resources to innovators who face unique challenges when working with DOD, including limited familiarity with the DOD acquisition process. These resources empower international innovators to make important connections that advance solutions toward Army transition and commercialization.
Over the course of these competitions, nearly 350 international, small- and medium-sized businesses and academic and research institutions from almost 50 countries, have submitted eligible proposals, with 45 finalists participating in the Accelerator Program. This demonstrates the diversity and breadth of innovators who can secure a technological advantage for the U.S. and its allies.
The U.S. Army xTech team, joined by members of the Office of the ASA(ALT), AFC, DEVCOM, ONR-G and other government agencies, hosted the xTechInternational Advanced Manufacturing and Materials competition during the summer of 2023 in London, England (Photo courtesy of the U.S. Army xTech Program)
PARTNER PERSPECTIVES
In conjunction with ASA(ALT), the competitions feature tri-service partnerships with established defense organizations, including the Army Futures Command (AFC) Forward Elements; U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (DEVCOM) within AFC; the U.S. Office of Naval Research Global (ONR-G); and the Air Force Research Laboratory’s AFWERX Program. These organizations collaborate with xTech to plan and identify focus areas, while supplying expert evaluators to review proposals from across the globe.
According to Matt Willis, Ph.D., director of Army Innovation Programs, including xTech and the Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR) Programs, tri-service partnerships are crucial because modern conflicts increasingly require integrated technologies to address complex global threats. By pooling defense resources through xTech, the Army can enhance its global presence and deterrence capabilities to keep threats at bay. “The combined expertise and critical feedback from tri-service partners help international innovators, who are often unfamiliar with U.S. military acquisitions, understand how their solutions fit into a comprehensive defense strategy,” Willis said. “This strategy spans the joint force and military allies, accelerating innovation into trusted hands.”
The AFC Forward Elements, which include DEVCOM Americas, DEVCOM Atlantic and DEVCOM Pacific, have partnered with xTech since the inaugural xTechGlobal AI Challenge. Spread across these respective regions, the AFC Forward Elements’ mission is to identify and implement international technologies that meet Army and DOD requirements and facilitate the transition of these technologies to allied nations.
Tom Mulkern, former deputy director of AFC Forward Element-Atlantic, has supported xTech’s international competitions from the beginning. Now working as the director of International Science and Technology (S&T) Programs for DASA(R&T), Mulkern notes that the Army has not always effectively engaged with international innovators. XTech’s global initiative changes this dynamic by casting a wide net across allied countries to gather ideas. “The Army and DOD need international partners because the U.S. no longer corners the market on S&T expertise,” Mulkern said. “We need to leverage our allies and build upon the strengths of the U.S. and our allies to counter adversaries. XTech’s international competitions are a way to engage with these innovators.”
By expanding its outreach to the international market, the Army not only boosts the chances of discovering new technologies for the U.S. military but also strengthens the defense capabilities of our allies. This proactive approach is crucial for ensuring that cutting-edge technologies stay in friendly hands and out of adversaries’ reach.
AFC Forward Element-Americas, headquartered in Santiago, Chile, also supports xTech’s international competitions. The Americas element explores collaborative opportunities with non-U.S. innovators that can close mission gaps for the Army in North, Central and South America. In this expansive coverage area, AFC Americas leverages xTech to close the geographic span and increase touch points with non-U.S. technology disrupters.
Harry DuRette, deputy director of AFC Forward Element-Americas, has advocated for Latin American businesses to bring their innovative strengths and applied science to the Army via xTech. DuRette noted that many of the vendors are educated in the U.S. and therefore have an inherent understanding of American science and business processes. “The Latin American S&T landscape tends to be focused on specific challenges, many of which are relevant to Army modernization priorities,” DuRette said. “The key is making these businesses aware that collaborative opportunities exist within the Army. XTech has been a critical connector for AFC Americas to bring more innovators to the Army table.”
Col. Charles Seaberry, director of AFC Forward Element-Atlantic, was recently introduced to xTech through the xTechInternational 2024 competition. In his role, Seaberry oversees a global organization, including DEVCOM Atlantic, that identifies R&D collaborations in Europe, Africa and the Middle East to advance DOD capabilities. At the finals event in Madrid, Spain, in August 2024, Seaberry was impressed with the technology readiness levels (TRLs) of many finalists, noting that some demonstrated advancements nearing transition to Soldiers’ kits.
XTech brings together a large range of technologies outside of the U.S. that are critical to the DOD. Over the course of the 2024 international competition, Seaberry observed solutions across a spectrum of TRLs that align with current priorities, such as AI for decision-making and autonomy; quantum technologies for sensing and secure communication; additive manufacturing for operational efficiency; and sustainable energy solutions. “XTech is more than an innovation discovery platform; it is a catalyst for cultivating a robust ecosystem of entrepreneurship,” Seaberry said. “Through this initiative, the Army connects with international innovators at the forefront of transformative technology, laying the groundwork for future capabilities that may fundamentally shift the defense landscape.”
Deep Breathe accepts the first-place award for the xTechInternational 2024 competition at the finals event in Madrid, Spain. From left to right, Matt Willis, Ph.D. director of Army Prize Competitions and Army SBIR|STTR Programs; Rob Arntfield, M.D., Deep Breathe founder and CEO; Delaney Smith, Deep Breathe manager of data science and research; COL Charles Seaberry, director of AFC Atlantic; LTC Erik Quiralte, director of International Technology Center (ITC)-France, AFC Atlantic Forward Element; and Paul Sparks, Ph.D., technical director of ITC, AFC Atlantic Forward Element (Photo courtesy of Deep Breathe)
CRITICAL SUCCESSES
Bearing out Seaberry’s sentiment, xTech has already helped the international S&T community maximize connections and align solutions at the Army’s point of need. Magnus Metal Ltd., based out of Tzora, Israel, won first place in xTechInternational Advanced Manufacturing and Materials in 2023. The small business is now leveraging relationships made during the competition to integrate its automated, additive manufacturing technology with the Army.
In August 2024, Magnus Metal Ltd. received $150,000 through the FTAS Program, which funds technology assessments on novel, foreign technologies that could support Army modernization efforts. According to Ardy Johnson, Magnus Metal Ltd., vice president and general manager of U.S. operations, the award resulted from an introduction made via xTech during the finals event in London. Johnson believes that the xTech win not only facilitated an invaluable Army connection but also expedited the FTAS application and approval process in less than one year following the competition.
Now the small business is producing regular deliverables for the Army as part of an ongoing assessment of the technology tailored to the Army’s specific requirements. Magnus Metal Ltd. is working toward enabling the Army’s eventual purchase and installation of a Magnus machine to support strategic manufacturing needs through digital casting, with the company providing a support team and regular system upgrades to the Army. In addition, Johnson shared that Magnus Metal Ltd. is making progress in the U.S. commercial market. The company has received $80 million in venture capital investments via Series B funding, which is for companies that have demonstrated market viability and require additional capital to scale solutions. Magnus Metal Ltd. is also kicking off plans to open a U.S.-based office soon.
Meanwhile, Deep Breathe, a medical technology company based in Ontario, Canada, won first place at xTechInternational 2024, earning over $100,000 in cash prizes for its portable, AI-driven ultrasound software that can accurately interpret the results of lung ultrasounds for Soldiers in the field. Founder and CEO Rob Arntfield, M.D., shared that his company entered the competition without prior DOD exposure; before xTech, its technology was primarily geared toward the civilian healthcare category. However, the competition revealed significant interest by the DOD in Deep Breathe’s capabilities and boosted the company’s confidence in applying to other military programs.
Soon after xTechInternational 2024, Deep Breathe connected with Special Operations Forces (SOF) at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, and received a CRADA for ongoing R&D to tailor their solution for the unique needs of the SOF community. The company is also partnering with ONR-G to evaluate its solution for the Marine Corps at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. “We wouldn’t have been knocking on any of these doors if it weren’t for xTech’s introductions and support,” Arntfield said. He noted that the Accelerator Program was particularly helpful in navigating the complexities of working with the DOD for foreign companies.
Deep Breathe and Magnus Metal exemplify the impact of xTech’s international reach, but they are just the beginning when it comes to defense-ready technologies spanning allied nations. The successes across the U.S. and globally are numerous, with more to come as new international competitions are launched.
CONCLUSION
The DIB’s study highlights the crucial role of international alliances, warning that “failure to fully integrate and collaborate with allies and partners will inhibit our ability to innovate, deter threats and win conflicts.” XTech’s global efforts continue to thrive, with more competitions in the works to drive innovation beyond U.S. borders.
Aligning with the DIB’s sentiment, the Army’s xTech Program must fully integrate and collaborate. The international competition series demonstrates the DOD’s ability to strengthen its power through global strategic alliances. As the program’s international presence evolves, the horizon promises even greater opportunities to showcase new solutions and shape the future of defense innovation.
“XTech’s international competitions are a prime example of how the Army is working to promote innovation and collaboration across the global technology community,” Mulkern said. “With the launch of new competitions in 2025, the program will continue to establish requisite trust between the Army and international partners.”
For more information on the Army xTech Program’s current and upcoming competitions, go to www.xtech.army.mil.
ANNA VOLKWINE provides contractor support to Army Innovation Programs for Booz Allen Hamilton. She holds a B.A. in strategic communications from Mount St. Mary’s University.
