WEBVTT 00:00.110 --> 00:01.210 - Good afternoon everyone, 00:01.210 --> 00:04.430 and welcome back to the proof of concept demonstrations. 00:04.430 --> 00:05.370 This morning you heard, 00:05.370 --> 00:08.120 and saw three small business finalists demonstrate 00:08.120 --> 00:09.530 their technology concepts. 00:09.530 --> 00:12.260 And this afternoon, you will hear and see three more. 00:12.260 --> 00:14.310 Before we get started with the demonstrations, 00:14.310 --> 00:17.270 I would like to introduce our keynote speaker for day one 00:17.270 --> 00:19.770 of the proof of concept demonstrations, 00:19.770 --> 00:22.300 the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army, 00:22.300 --> 00:25.370 Research and Technology, Dr. Thomas Russell. 00:25.370 --> 00:27.770 Please help me welcome Dr. Russell. 00:27.770 --> 00:30.770 (audience applauds) 00:33.930 --> 00:36.130 - Thank you. It's great see a good turnout. 00:37.690 --> 00:40.130 So in my notes I had, "Say good morning," 00:40.130 --> 00:42.770 but I think it's actually good afternoon. 00:42.770 --> 00:43.603 I am Tom Russell, 00:43.603 --> 00:45.240 and I'm the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army, 00:45.240 --> 00:47.190 for research and technology. 00:47.190 --> 00:49.710 I really wanted to just kind of begin with 00:51.210 --> 00:54.400 thanking you all for participating in xTechSearch. 00:54.400 --> 00:56.010 You're here with a proof of concept. 00:56.010 --> 00:58.690 We often refer to it as a capstone. 00:58.690 --> 01:01.710 And it's really the third phase of the activities 01:01.710 --> 01:02.543 in xTech, 01:02.543 --> 01:06.000 and so those who are here today presenting, 01:06.000 --> 01:07.710 today and tomorrow, 01:07.710 --> 01:11.020 it's really focused on getting down to that last selectee, 01:11.020 --> 01:14.430 but hopefully you've had a great experience up 01:14.430 --> 01:15.263 to this point. 01:15.263 --> 01:18.510 We've provided some resources that help you to continue 01:18.510 --> 01:20.700 to develop your technologies. 01:20.700 --> 01:23.320 And just because we can only select one, 01:23.320 --> 01:25.920 doesn't mean we're not in with love all of you. 01:25.920 --> 01:27.230 It just means that that's just the way 01:27.230 --> 01:29.243 the prize competition process works. 01:31.730 --> 01:34.090 But there are opportunities I hope everyone's taking, 01:34.090 --> 01:37.830 of getting on the floor, meeting with companies, 01:37.830 --> 01:40.100 engaging with others. 01:40.100 --> 01:43.120 Hopefully, I think you will have booth space on Wednesday, 01:43.120 --> 01:46.450 so you can actually have people come by and see you as well. 01:46.450 --> 01:48.790 So if you happen to see what's going on over 01:48.790 --> 01:52.410 in the xTechSearch piece of the innovators corner, 01:52.410 --> 01:53.930 you'll notice there's a large crowd, 01:53.930 --> 01:55.080 and those crowds of people there 01:55.080 --> 01:57.600 are really coming in talking to the companies. 01:57.600 --> 02:01.030 And then also, we're starting to have some engagements. 02:01.030 --> 02:04.320 So, I kind of jumped ahead, 02:04.320 --> 02:06.500 I mean if you don't know xTech completely, 02:06.500 --> 02:08.470 it's a four phased approach. 02:08.470 --> 02:11.400 We spend about $2 million for every event. 02:11.400 --> 02:15.160 We run two events per year, both cases they work 02:15.160 --> 02:16.543 with AUSA. 02:17.530 --> 02:21.670 So there's activities like this capstone, 02:21.670 --> 02:22.980 or proof of concept here, 02:22.980 --> 02:24.720 there's a proof of concept in Huntsville, 02:24.720 --> 02:27.970 we run up with winner AUSA, and the national meeting, 02:27.970 --> 02:30.590 so it starts before that. 02:30.590 --> 02:34.110 There's a white paper phase, a face to face pitch. 02:34.110 --> 02:36.640 We actually, for every time we have an engagement with you 02:36.640 --> 02:40.250 we provide resources, so that you're hopefully covering 02:40.250 --> 02:42.980 your expenses to come here. 02:42.980 --> 02:45.160 So that you're not coming out of your pocket 02:45.160 --> 02:48.327 for trying to actually get engagements with us, 02:48.327 --> 02:50.500 and the broader community. 02:50.500 --> 02:51.590 The other thing we try to do, 02:51.590 --> 02:53.290 and the reason we do this AUSA is, 02:53.290 --> 02:54.170 I sort of hinted at, 02:54.170 --> 02:55.350 is really, 02:55.350 --> 02:58.410 it gives us the opportunity to give you a way 02:58.410 --> 02:59.970 to showcase yourself, right? 02:59.970 --> 03:03.110 So the booth space is donated by AUSA, 03:03.110 --> 03:05.510 it's free of charge to us, 03:05.510 --> 03:07.970 which just also means it's free of charge to you. 03:07.970 --> 03:10.250 It gives you an opportunity for people to come by. 03:10.250 --> 03:12.990 It also gets you an opportunity to get on the floor, 03:12.990 --> 03:14.360 and meet companies. 03:14.360 --> 03:18.470 A lot of our successes, for the xTech search participants 03:18.470 --> 03:19.820 has really been... 03:19.820 --> 03:21.260 Engages with the primes, 03:21.260 --> 03:23.590 or other small businesses on the floor. 03:23.590 --> 03:26.300 Probably half of the companies we've engaged with 03:26.300 --> 03:30.080 have developed business relationships with people 03:30.080 --> 03:31.940 that are outside the army, 03:31.940 --> 03:33.410 which is just as good to us, 03:33.410 --> 03:35.610 as if whether you're within the army or not. 03:36.480 --> 03:38.790 So, that proof of concept, 03:38.790 --> 03:41.360 so the next two days are really showcasing 03:41.360 --> 03:45.733 the 12 selectees from Huntsville, last March. 03:47.070 --> 03:50.470 We want to try and see if we can come up with 03:50.470 --> 03:52.840 the best technology that's available for us to do. 03:52.840 --> 03:55.100 And one of those technology winners 03:55.100 --> 03:58.330 from the last time we had a proof of concept was... 03:58.330 --> 03:59.649 What's the name of that company again Matt? 03:59.649 --> 04:01.000 - [Matt] Adrano? - Adranos, thank you. 04:01.000 --> 04:03.770 Adranos, which was a solid propellant company, 04:03.770 --> 04:05.590 and they'll actually be here on Wednesday, 04:05.590 --> 04:07.600 if you're interested in hearing from them. 04:07.600 --> 04:10.390 They're going to actually go over in the xTech area, 04:10.390 --> 04:11.320 in innovation corner, 04:11.320 --> 04:14.010 where I think everybody here will have your booths, 04:14.010 --> 04:17.060 and they're going to present sort of what their experience 04:17.060 --> 04:19.828 has been through the entire process, 04:19.828 --> 04:23.670 in trying to understand how to work with 04:23.670 --> 04:25.600 the government through the whole thing. 04:25.600 --> 04:27.370 And they've also had some engagements now at 04:27.370 --> 04:30.610 the PEOPM level, so they've actually gotten further. 04:30.610 --> 04:32.520 Alright so this is the... 04:32.520 --> 04:34.120 Basically we're on 3.0, 04:34.120 --> 04:37.563 so this is really being showcased here. 04:40.400 --> 04:42.310 And then, because there's two, 04:42.310 --> 04:45.570 I might get back and forth on which one's which. 04:45.570 --> 04:49.200 So I think we're on 3.O which is actually crossed, 04:49.200 --> 04:50.570 which is what I was talking about a minute. 04:50.570 --> 04:52.560 4.0 has just been advertised, 04:52.560 --> 04:55.890 so if there are people here who are just listening, 04:55.890 --> 04:57.697 or even the small companies that are here, 04:57.697 --> 04:59.100 4.0 was advertised, 04:59.100 --> 05:02.050 I believe the white papers are due on November 11th, 05:02.050 --> 05:03.020 this year. 05:03.020 --> 05:05.060 A couple of the things we've actually tried to do, 05:05.060 --> 05:08.190 to improve our engagement with you, 05:08.190 --> 05:10.370 and the way we actually interact with a lot of 05:10.370 --> 05:12.560 the small companies is, 05:12.560 --> 05:14.400 we've launched this month what's called 05:14.400 --> 05:16.360 an xTech accelerator. 05:16.360 --> 05:18.650 And this is really to provide better networking, 05:18.650 --> 05:21.460 and mentorship, with the small companies, 05:21.460 --> 05:24.810 and some education programs for those xTech participants, 05:24.810 --> 05:27.240 throughout the phases of the competition, 05:27.240 --> 05:29.040 trying to improve our engagement, 05:29.040 --> 05:33.200 and help you as a small entity or small business 05:33.200 --> 05:35.340 understand what it really means to work with the army, 05:35.340 --> 05:38.070 and how to actually work with us. 05:38.070 --> 05:40.040 And it's really about trying to actually build you 05:40.040 --> 05:41.150 into our ecosystem, 05:41.150 --> 05:43.230 so the accelerator will help with that. 05:43.230 --> 05:45.030 Another thing for everybody here, 05:45.030 --> 05:47.590 which I think is also new, 05:47.590 --> 05:50.180 I think we did it last year in the SPIR program, 05:50.180 --> 05:52.940 but again this year in the SPIR program, 05:52.940 --> 05:55.700 there is a new release 05:55.700 --> 05:58.100 which is looking for dual use technologies. 05:58.100 --> 06:01.810 It is primarily focused towards the xTech participants 06:01.810 --> 06:05.870 that we've actually been working with over the last year so. 06:05.870 --> 06:07.030 It's not limited to that, 06:07.030 --> 06:10.410 but it is actually an area where if you're not 06:10.410 --> 06:11.570 the final selectee, 06:11.570 --> 06:15.190 there's another opportunity to engage with us in the army, 06:15.190 --> 06:17.220 and become part of the SPIR program, 06:17.220 --> 06:20.880 and help us actually work through that that process. 06:20.880 --> 06:23.440 It's an out of cycle SPIR topic, 06:23.440 --> 06:26.260 so I just want to make sure everybody understands that. 06:26.260 --> 06:27.960 And it will, again, 06:27.960 --> 06:30.110 I think that one opens on November 11th as well, 06:30.110 --> 06:32.290 So it's... No? 06:32.290 --> 06:33.150 - [Audience Member] Closes on November 11. 06:33.150 --> 06:34.390 - Closes on November 11th. 06:34.390 --> 06:37.650 So opens next week, thanks Matt. 06:37.650 --> 06:40.170 So if you have any interest in that, 06:40.170 --> 06:43.103 please feel free to participate. 06:44.110 --> 06:47.140 And then, I already mentioned the xTech 4.0, 06:47.140 --> 06:52.140 so let me just finish up with my brief comments. 06:52.500 --> 06:54.350 What I really want to do is personally invite each, 06:54.350 --> 06:57.320 and every one of you to join us on Wednesday 06:57.320 --> 06:59.750 at 3:30 in the afternoon, 06:59.750 --> 07:01.943 over in innovations corner at hall B. 07:03.090 --> 07:05.160 We're going to announce the winner at that point in time. 07:05.160 --> 07:08.240 So not only the winner of this part of xTech, 07:08.240 --> 07:13.240 but of the 24-25 companies that are in the phase two part 07:15.240 --> 07:18.500 of the xTech search, over in hall B, 07:18.500 --> 07:21.070 we'll actually announce those 12 winners as well. 07:21.070 --> 07:24.113 So Dr. Jette will actually hand out the award, 07:25.800 --> 07:27.860 for both the winner here, 07:27.860 --> 07:31.920 as well as the 12 finalists from the xTech 3.0, 07:31.920 --> 07:33.240 that's ongoing. 07:33.240 --> 07:34.630 And I think there'll be a big check, 07:34.630 --> 07:37.430 because Dr. Jette wanted us to have a big check. 07:37.430 --> 07:39.480 So what I'd like to do is really just thank you all 07:39.480 --> 07:41.410 for being here today, 07:41.410 --> 07:45.420 small businesses who applied to the xTech are currently 07:45.420 --> 07:47.930 motivated beyond, hopefully, 07:47.930 --> 07:49.240 just financial interest. 07:49.240 --> 07:50.170 In this activity, 07:50.170 --> 07:53.220 it's trying to help us support soldiers, 07:53.220 --> 07:56.280 and stakeholders to try and improve what we're doing 07:56.280 --> 07:58.310 for protecting our soldiers, 07:58.310 --> 08:00.600 and giving them technologies that we might not actually get, 08:00.600 --> 08:03.930 introduced into the system on a regular basis, 08:03.930 --> 08:05.730 in our traditional way. 08:05.730 --> 08:08.790 So we think this has been a great engagement, 08:08.790 --> 08:12.510 trying to bring new companies, new ideas, 08:12.510 --> 08:14.400 new technologies into the army, 08:14.400 --> 08:17.810 and trying to ensure that we actually opening up 08:17.810 --> 08:18.643 the aperture and, 08:18.643 --> 08:21.170 figuring out how to do better business with you. 08:21.170 --> 08:25.580 So I want to thank these seven people sitting here 08:25.580 --> 08:27.360 in the chairs, 08:27.360 --> 08:31.360 our panel of judges from across our army ecosystem. 08:31.360 --> 08:33.170 They've traveled here, taking part in this, 08:33.170 --> 08:35.390 they are going to be here for today and tomorrow. 08:35.390 --> 08:37.450 I appreciate everything you guys are doing to help us 08:37.450 --> 08:38.610 with this, 08:38.610 --> 08:42.280 and we really look forward to your recommendations 08:43.210 --> 08:47.009 on Wednesday so that we can actually reward 08:47.009 --> 08:48.500 one of the participants. 08:48.500 --> 08:51.920 But again, I want to emphasize that it's not about 08:51.920 --> 08:55.100 winning this cash award, or the last contract. 08:55.100 --> 08:57.780 We are hoping that this whole process makes us 08:57.780 --> 08:59.720 that we build a lasting relationship with you, 08:59.720 --> 09:02.170 and your companies as we move forward. 09:02.170 --> 09:04.640 So with that, I'll finish with, 09:04.640 --> 09:07.560 if you have feedback we're always open for feedback. 09:07.560 --> 09:10.550 There's always good and bad in all these prize competitions. 09:10.550 --> 09:13.400 Every year we do this, or every session we do this 09:13.400 --> 09:17.213 we get feedback from the companies, both good and bad. 09:18.250 --> 09:21.050 It helps us kind of continue to massage 09:21.050 --> 09:24.140 the way this is run to make it most effective for you. 09:24.140 --> 09:26.430 And the one thing we want to make sure is highly effective 09:26.430 --> 09:28.510 is the way we communicate to you, 09:28.510 --> 09:29.870 and the way you communicate to us. 09:29.870 --> 09:32.610 It's really about building that bridge of communication 09:32.610 --> 09:35.150 between the army or the government, 09:35.150 --> 09:36.350 and small companies, 09:36.350 --> 09:39.040 so we can actually have an enhanced relationship. 09:39.040 --> 09:42.240 So with that, I'll finish and good luck. 09:42.240 --> 09:44.390 And I'm looking forward to the results on Wednesday, 09:44.390 --> 09:46.887 at 3:30 over in hall B. Thanks a lot.