Advancing defense innovation, collaboration, and related business development through a warfighter’s lens. That’s what the North Carolina Defense Technology Transition Office (DEFTECH) expects to achieve at the 2nd Annual Defense Technology Summit (DTS) on July 25, 2023, at Fayetteville Technical Community College in the Tony Rand Student Center. Event website: https://defense.ncmbc.us. 

The DTS is hosted by United States Senators Thom Tillis and Ted Budd, Fayetteville Technical Community College (FTCC), the North Carolina Military Business Center (NCMBC) and DEFTECH and is held in conjunction with the Association of the United States Army (AUSA) Warfighter Summit and Exposition on July 26-27 in Fayetteville, North Carolina.

The DTS is not your typical summit.  DTS will have a laser focus on the advanced technology needs of major military commands in North Carolina and the Department of Defense (DoD) and incorporate interactive roundtable discussions with military, academic and business thought leaders to explore how DoD’s demand signals may be addressed collaboratively through our thriving innovation ecosystem.

Roundtable sessions: 

• Roundtable 1: Forced Entry in a Complex Environment sets the stage with several active duty and government practitioners who represent diverse perspectives. Speakers include Army Medical Central Simulation Command; XVIII Airborne Corps; US Special Operations Command; 1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (invited); Fort Liberty Garrison (invited)
• Roundtable 2: Emerging Technologies – Examining the Latest Innovations in Defense will be led by Dr. Stephen Lee, Chief Scientist, US Army Research Office, US Army Research Laboratory. Other experts include representatives from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, Office of Naval Research (invited); and leading academics.
• Roundtable 3: The Future of Warfare: Preparing for Emerging Threats will offer perspectives from several of DoD’s innovation elements including the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), the Army Applications Lab (invited); the National Security Innovation Network (invited); and AFWERX, a technology directorate of the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) (invited). 

Other novel aspects of the DTS include networking and opportunities for pre-screened industry partners to briefly “pitch” their dual-use advanced technologies solutions that may help satisfy rapidly evolving requirements to user audiences.

This single day, single location event will allow public and private sector innovators to expand their connections with the North Carolina Innovation Ecosystem and meet with government, academia, and industry counterparts. 

For more information on the DTS, visit: https://defense.ncmbc.us.