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Around the Region Holiday 2024-2025 Edition

By AFRL Regional Network Midwest Community posted 12-18-2024 16:05

  
Holiday 2024-2025 Edition

2025 Funding Call #2 Opens Jan. 20

The AFRL Regional Network – Midwest is excited to announce the availability of funding for projects that can immediately and significantly benefit the technology and development of AFRL scientists & engineers (S&Es). This call seeks proposals from researchers who are members of the Midwest Regional Network, along with their AFRL and additional collaborators.
    Project submission opens: Jan. 20, 2025
    Pre-proposal (Phase I) due date: Feb. 7, 2025
    Proposal (Phase II) due date: March 31, 2025

    Before applying for funding, you MUST have an established relationship with an AFRL S&E. If you still need to connect with an AFRL S&E, please submit your ideas through Tech Connect. All information related to the call, including the list of subtopics desired by the AFRL Technical Directorates, will be available in the new community portal.
    More Information

    SAVE THE DATE!
    AFRL Regional Network - Midwest Annual Meeting



    When: 
    April 24-25, 2025 
    Where: 
    Purdue University campus

    Mark your calendars and join us for an engaging two days of collaboration and discovery! 

    Attendees will get the chance to network with regional stakeholders and learn about groundbreaking science; gain insights from AFRL, DoD, and funding leaders; participate in workshops designed to spark collaboration and innovation; and discover state and federal resources available to Midwest members. The tentative agenda will include:

    Thursday, April 24 
    • Optional guided tours of Purdue facilities and an AFROTC cadet/DCTC student-focused breakfast session (8:00-11:30 AM)
    • Registration, lunch, keynote speeches, and presentations from awardees (11:30 AM-5:00 PM)
    • Evening networking reception (5:30-7:00 PM)

    Friday, April 25

    • Breakfast, breakout sessions, awardee impacts, and collaborative workshop/breakout (8:00 AM-12:00 PM)

    Informational Q&As

    January 9, 2025, 11:00 AM EST
    January 13, 2025, 9:00 AM EST
    January 16, 2025, 2:00 PM EST


    These sessions are an opportunity to discuss what matters most to you: funding, proposal content, AFRL collaborators, rubrics, network membership, micro-apprenticeships, and more.

    In attendance will be the Purdue Lead Program Manager, Amanda Ridge, and Purdue Director, Stacy Manni. Any questions or issues connecting should be directed at afrlmwst@purdue.edu.

    Awardee Success Story

    Congratulations to Great Lakes Crystal Technologies who were awarded $6.2 million from Microelectronics Commons as a result of work established using funding from the AFRL Regional Network - Midwest.

    Their project, "High-Performance Diamond Electronics for Next Generation Defense Systems," seeks to develop a new generation of diamond-based high power radio frequency transistors for future electronic warfare systems and the associated power transistors to condition the sensor prime power. 

      Check out their latest video update to learn more

       

      NSA Cybersecurity Collaboration Center

      Defense Industrial Base (DIB) companies face persistent cyber threats aimed at stealing U.S. intellectual property and sensitive DoD information, jeopardizing national security and the economy. To counter these efforts, the National Security Agency (NSA) offers no-cost cybersecurity services to qualifying DIB companies, focusing on protecting sensitive but unclassified DoD information on private networks by addressing top exploitation vectors used by foreign adversaries.

      The NSA prioritizes eliminating cybersecurity threats to the DIB. Through its Cybersecurity Collaboration Center (CCC), it offers no-cost, scalable solutions for qualifying DIB companies, including Protective DNS, attack surface management, and access to DIB-specific threat intelligence. A pilot program is also exploring additional services for future release.

      Hundreds of industry partners have adopted NSA’s no-cost cybersecurity services, enhancing protection against malicious cyber activity. These services have enabled early detection, exposure, and remediation of multiple nation-state campaigns targeting the DIB.

      If you're a current DoD contractor and are interested in learning more, use the link below to get started. A representative from the NSA CCC DIB Defense Team will reach out to provide an overview of the program and the associated benefits.

      Get started with the NSA CCC

      Encountering Innovation:
      March 18-21, 2025

      Encountering Innovation is a leading tech transfer event connecting groundbreaking ideas with real-world applications. Recognized as a top U.S. pitch event, it provides innovators and inventors a platform to showcase cutting-edge technologies to U.S. government tech scouts. The event features matchmaking sessions, enabling small business innovators and manufacturers to connect directly with representatives from the DoD, service labs, academia, and other government agencies. Spanning talent from 8+ states, it fosters an ecosystem of collaboration and innovation.

      In partnership with Defense Innovation OnRamp Hub: Kansas and FirePoint at Wichita State University, the event addresses government needs and promotes forward-thinking solutions. Join to shape the future of innovation and opportunity.

      Learn more and apply here

      AFRL Partner Questionnaire

      The Strategic Partnerships (SP) Directorate at AFRL is conducting a survey to gain a deeper understanding of its current partnership ecosystem. Your insights are crucial in working to better understand and enhance the impact of AFRL's strategic partnerships.

      Your responses will remain confidential and will directly inform AFRL's enterprise-level best practices for partner collaboration.

      Your input is invaluable as we work to drive innovation, strengthen partnerships, and fulfill our mission more effectively.

        Contribute your input here

        As the year draws to a close, we want to take a moment to express our gratitude for every member of our network's dedication to innovation and excellence. Each of you plays a vital role in advancing defense research and technology, shaping a safe and secure future for us all.

        May this holiday season bring you well-deserved rest, inspiration for new discoveries, and moments of joy with loved ones. Let us carry the spirit of curiosity and collaboration into the coming year as we continue to break barriers and redefine what is possible.

        Warmest wishes for a joyful holiday season and a successful New Year!

        With appreciation and cheer,

        The AFRL Regional Network - Midwest team

        Upcoming Events

        • Jan. 9, 2025: AFRL Regional Network - Midwest Information Session. Virtual
        • Jan. 13, 2025: AFRL Regional Network - Midwest Information Session. Virtual
        • Jan. 16, 2025: AFRL Regional Network - Midwest Information Session. Virtual
        • March 18-21, 2025: Encountering Innovation 9th Annual Conference. Kansas City, MO
        • March 28-30, 2025: IEEE Region 5 Meeting. Wichita, KS
        • April 1-2, 2025: Hypersonic Weapons Systems Conference. Huntsville, AL
        • April 24-25, 2025: AFRL Regional Network - Midwest Annual Meeting. West Lafayette, IN

        If you will be attending any of these events and would like an opportunity to meet, please email us at afrlmwst@purdue.edu. We'd be happy to schedule dedicated time to meet with you!

        Click here for more upcoming event information.


        Have you checked out the AFRL Regional Network - Midwest YouTube Channel? On this platform, partners have access to a variety of video content that includes:
        • Funded project video reports
        • Network promo videos
        • Informative and instructional videos
        Stay tuned to all of our social media channels as new content will be added frequently!

        Partner with Us


        The AFRL Regional Network - Midwest is a unique opportunity to partner with the Air Force Research Lab. If you are interested in becoming a partner, please visit our Join Page for more information!

        Get Featured in the Newsletter


        If you or your organization would like to be featured in an issue of Around the Region, please email us at afrlmwst@purdue.edu. A representative will then reach out to you for additional information.

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