The Office of US Senator Thom Tillis, Office of US Senator Ted Budd, the North Carolina Military Business Center, and the North Carolina Biotechnology Center will host the Medical, Biomedical & Biodefense (MBB): Support to America’s Warfighters and Veterans Symposium in Chapel Hill, North Carolina on September 23-24, 2026.

If your business, research, technology, manufacturing capability, or service can help improve the health, readiness, protection, or recovery of America’s warfighters and veterans, the MBB Symposium can help you move closer to the people who need it.

At MBB, you can:

• Discover where real opportunities exist by hearing directly from military and federal agencies about their current capability gaps and future needs.
• Connect with potential customers, partners, and end users from the Department of War, Department of Veterans Affairs, federal agencies, major primes, and contractors.
• Position your solution for the federal market by gaining a clearer understanding of how agencies buy, what they need, and how to navigate the procurement process.
• Find new pathways for your research or innovation by connecting promising ideas and technologies with organizations seeking solutions.
• Build relationships that can lead to future opportunities through direct, informal engagement with decision-makers, buyers, partners, and fellow innovators.

Whether you are developing breakthrough medical technology, conducting research, manufacturing critical products, or delivering specialized services, MBB can help you understand the mission, make the right connections, and position your capabilities for opportunity.

Day 1: An evening Welcome Social Networking Event at the Friday Center, University of North Carolina.

Day 2: A full program day will be conducted, also at the Friday Center, University of North Carolina. 

Some highlights of the day are:

• Connect with the Department of Veterans Affairs in two ways:
  • Business Opportunities with the Department of Veterans Affairs.  A panel of presenters will identify requirements of Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Centers and clinics in the region for medical products and services, including research and development, supplies, equipment, devices, pharmaceuticals, training, IT and staff augmentation.
  • Department of Veterans Affairs One-On-One Meetings. The Department of Veterans Affairs will host one-on-one meetings with industry. This forum provides a unique opportunity for dialogue with key decision makers from multiple Veterans Affairs offices. 
• Warfighter Strong: Medical & Human Performance Needs of the Fighting Force. The face of conflict is changing. Technological advances have introduced levels of battlefield complexity that would have been unimaginable even a few years ago. America's Warfighter faces not only physical challenges, but also increasing cognitive demands driven by data and information overload.
• From Requirement to Reality: Industry on the Front Lines.  This panel brings together leaders from defense industry, military medicine, federal acquisition, and operational communities to examine how emerging requirements become fielded capabilities.
• Senior Executive Leadership Panel: Medical Acquisition Priorities and Opportunities Across DoW and VA.   The evolving national security environment, increasing healthcare demands and rapid pace of technological innovation are transforming how the Department of War (DoW) and Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) acquire, field and sustain medical capabilities.  This executive-level panel brings together senior acquisition leaders from the Defense Logistics Agency, Department of Veterans Affairs and Defense Health Agency to discuss the strategic priorities shaping the future of military and veteran healthcare acquisition.
• Business Opportunities with the Department of War, Defense Health Agency & Defense Logistics Agency. A panel of presenters will identify requirements for the Department of War, Defense Health Agency and Defense Logistics Agency for medical products and services, devices, pharmaceuticals, training, IT and staffing needs. 
• Business Opportunities in Operational & Medical Logistics with Military Service Medical Commands. Military service medical commands and the broader military health enterprise provide business opportunities for companies specializing in operational logistics, medical supply chains, healthcare technology, and readiness support.
• AI Enabled Healthcare: "Doc in a Box." This panel will highlight how AI-powered “Doc in a Box” technologies can improve medical support for the warfighter across a range of operational environments. Featuring experts from government, academia, and industry, the discussion will explore emerging innovations that accelerate triage, strengthen clinical decision-making, and support medical care in austere environments where traditional medical infrastructure may not be available. 
• Medical Innovation Opportunities with Consortia and Federal Agencies.  The session will discuss the opportunities available for research and development, prototyping, and production through Other Transaction Authorities (OTAs) of the Federal Government. OTAs represent a growing sector of government acquisition with many potential advantages for non-traditional entities over FAR-based contracts. 

Think you need years of federal contracting experience to attend?  Think again. 
The MBB Symposium is specifically designed to be accessible, educational, and interactive—ideal for:

• Startups and small businesses exploring new markets
• Established companies seeking to grow their federal presence
• Academic researchers looking for translational opportunities or federal collaboration
• Non-traditional defense partners who want to learn how to contribute to national security.

Walk away with actionable insight and new contacts that could turn into transformative opportunities for your organization.

Attendees at this joint government and industry MBB event will gain a clear competitive advantage to compete for federal contracts.   

For more information on the NCMBC visit www.ncmbc.us.   For more information or to register for the MBB Symposium visit: https://mbb.ncmbc.us/.