By Eleanor Kent, Army FUZE  

WASHINGTON ‒ The Army FUZE xTech Program, in partnership with the Office of the Deputy Under Secretary of the Army (DUSA) and the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army Research and Technology (R&T), has launched xTech|Inversion, a first-of-its-kind effort applying the Army’s xTech prize competition model to Army-developed intellectual property (IP). 

During most xTech competitions, industry competes by proposing technologies they have independently developed to address Army capability gaps. xTech|Inversion introduces a fundamentally different model by releasing select Army IP sets from across the Army research enterprise and challenging U.S. small businesses to explore how those technologies could be refined, adapted, commercialized, and transitioned. 

The competition bridges the gap between Army technical solutions and private-sector expertise in product development, manufacturing, market strategy, and technology transition. xTech|Inversion expands how the Army engages industry and accelerates the transition of promising technologies into real-world applications. 

As the Army’s premier prize competition program, xTech continues to evolve how it connects nontraditional innovators with Army priorities, experimentation opportunities, and transition pathways. xTech|Inversion represents the latest expansion of that approach, adding a new competition model focused on developing Army IP into commercially viable solutions. 

Through a structured, multi-part competition, participants will compete for a total cash prize pool of $1 million and the opportunity to submit a Phase I Army Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) proposal valued up to $300,000. 

By leveraging prize competitions, commercialization planning, and follow-on SBIR opportunities, xTech|Inversion aims to accelerate the transition of Army-developed technologies into scalable, dual-use capabilities that can support future operational, experimentation, and acquisition needs. 

Competition Overview 

The xTech|Inversion competition seeks white paper submissions from eligible U.S. small businesses proposing commercialization strategies, technical feasibility approaches, and transition pathways aligned to one of the sixteen available IP sets: 

• IP Set 1: Fibers Loaded with a Zirconium (IV) Hydroxide to Capture/Degrade Toxic Chemicals 
• IP Set 2: MXene Catalyst for Chemical Detox 
• IP Set 3: Hazardous Chemical Detoxification Using MOF beads 
• IP Set 4: Advanced Sealing Interface Surveillance Technology 
• IP Set 5: Spatial Calibration for Accurate Long-Distance Measurement Using Infrared Cameras 
• IP Set 6: Precise Wide Area Ionosphere Correction Solution for Multi-Spectrum Alternative Sources of Space-Based PNT Signals 
• IP Set 7: Pleated Filtration Apparatus Having a Filter Membrane 
• IP Set 8: Non-Contact Power Meter Independent of Placement of Field Sensors Around the Cable 
• IP Set 9: Production of High Energy-Dense Liquid Hydrocarbon from Low Energy-Dense Aqueous Solutions of Oxygen Containing Organic Compound(s) 
• IP Set 10: Deformable Array of Semiconductor Devices 
• IP Set 11: Dual Coil Inductive Energy Generator 
• IP Set 12: Voltage Step-Up Converter Circuits for Low Input Voltages 
• IP Set 13: Autonomous UV and Brush Apparatus for Well Fouling Prevention (Wellbot) 
• IP Set 14: Photocatalytic Water Treatment 
• IP Set 15: High-Performance Cold Mix Asphalt System 
• IP Set 16: Rapidly Deployable Over Decking Systems 

Detailed descriptions for each IP set are available in Appendix A of the competition RFI. 

Competition Structure 

The xTech|Inversion competition consists of three parts: 

Part One: Concept White Paper 

• Submission window: June 3 – 30, 2026. 
• Up to 12 finalists selected will receive $20,000 each and an opportunity to pitch their solutions to a panel of Army and Department of War (DoW) experts. 
• Selected finalists will also join the xTech|Inversion Accelerator Program. 

Part Two: Finals Pitch Event 

• Finalists will present their proposed commercializing approaches at Fed Supernova in Austin, Texas in August 2026. 
•  Up to five final winners will receive an additional $152,000 each and the opportunity to submit a Phase I Army SBIR proposal worth up to $300,000. 

Part Three: Request for Army SBIR Phase I Proposal 

• SBIR submission window: September 08 – September 25, 2026. 
• During the anticipated six-month performance period, Army experts will provide developmental and assessment-based feedback to help refine and evaluate proposed technologies in practical settings. 

Eligibility 

The competition is open to eligible U.S.-based small businesses. To participate, organizations must: 

• Be organized as a for-profit concern and meet all the requirements outlined in 13 C.F.R. § 121.702. 
• Be majority owned and controlled by one of the following: 
• U.S. citizens or permanent resident aliens  
• Other for-profit small business concerns that are directly owned and controlled by U.S. citizens or permanent resident aliens 
• A combination of both above 
• Have no more than 500 employees. 
• Submit proposals that are not substantially the same as another proposal that was funded, are currently being funded, or is pending contract award with another federal agency or non-funded agreement. 

Only one submission per IP set is permitted per eligible entity. Organizations submitting to multiple IP sets must propose distinct technology solutions for each submission. Full eligibility requirements and submission instructions are available in the competition RFI. 

About the Army FUZE xTech Program 

The Army FUZE xTech Program is the Army’s premier tool for scouting and accelerating dual-use technologies that directly enhance Soldier readiness and mission success. Through dynamic prize competitions like xTech|Search, xTech identifies breakthrough solutions and opens doors for nontraditional companies to engage with and deliver capabilities to the Army. Since its launch in 2018, xTech has awarded over $30 million in non-dilutive cash prizes across 50+ competitions – fueling innovation pipelines and delivering transformative technologies that matter on the battlefield. 

Learn more at the Army PIT website: https://pit.army.mil/pathway/xtech/  

About Army FUZE  

Army FUZE is the engine driving innovation within the Army’s integrated innovation ecosystem, strategically aligned under the Army’s Pathway for Innovation and Technology (PIT). By uniting key programs such as xTech, Small Business Innovation Research and Technology Transfer, Manufacturing Technology, and the Technology Maturation Initiative within a synchronized framework, FUZE accelerates advanced capabilities, strengthens the industrial base, and delivers readiness at the speed of relevance. Operating with a venture capitalist mindset, FUZE scouts broadly, takes calculated risks, and scales the most promising technologies, ensuring taxpayer dollars are directed toward solutions with both Army operational relevance and commercial viability. Through its alignment with PIT, FUZE underscores the Army’s commitment to fostering innovation, streamlining technology transitions, and bridging the gap between emerging technologies and critical operational needs to maintain military overmatch. 

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