MARCH 10-12, 2026 | RALEIGH, NC
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THE PROGRAM

Tuesday, March 10 - Thursday, March 12
Raleigh Convention Center & Marriott City Center, Raleigh, NC

Day-At-A-Glance   Detailed Program

REGISTRATION HOURS
Monday, March 9 12:00pm - 6:00pm 
Tuesday, March 10 7:00am - 6:00pm
Wednesday, March 11 7:00am - 6:00pm
Thursday, March 12 7:30am - 11:00am



  Day-At-A-Glance   


Day One: Tuesday, March 10

Technical Program

Business Program


8:30 AM TechConnect World Keynote Program Smart Cities Sessions
10:00 AM- 10:30 AM Networking Coffee Break
10:30 AM - 12:00 PM Technical Program Sessions Business Program Sessions SBIR/STTR Program Smart Cities Keynotes
12:00 PM - 1:15 PM Lunch (On Your Own)
1:00 PM - 6:00 PM - Expo Floor Open
1:30 PM - 4:00 PM Technical Program Sessions Business Program Sessions SBIR/STTR Program Smart Cities Sessions
4:00 PM-6:00 PM TechConnect Expo, Smart Cities Expo, SBIR/STTR Agency Pavilion, Poster Program I - Expo Floor


Day Two: Wednesday, March 11

Technical Program

Business Program


8:30 AM TechConnect World Keynote Program Smart Cities Sessions
9:00 AM-9:30 AM Networking Coffee Break
9:30 AM - 12:00 PM Technical Program Sessions Business Program Sessions SBIR/STTR Program Smart Cities Keynotes
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM Lunch (On Your Own)
1:00 PM - 6:00 PM - Expo Floor Open
- Student Workforce Development Career Awareness Fair, Expo Floor
1:30 PM - 4:00 PM Technical Program Sessions Business Program Sessions SBIR/STTR Program Smart Cities Sessions
4:00 PM - 6:00 PM TechConnect Expo, Smart Cities Expo, SBIR/STTR Agency Pavilion, Poster Program II, Student Posters - Expo Floor


Day Three: Thursday, March 12

Technical Program

Business Program

8:30 AM SBIR/STTR Innovator Training Workshop 8:30AM-4:30PM
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM Technical Program Sessions Business Program Sessions Smart Cities Sessions
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM Lunch (On Your Own)
1:30 PM - 4:00 PM Critical Materials - Workshop (open to all conference attendees) Business Program Sessions
 

  Detailed Program  

This program will continue to develop with new keynote, speaker and innovator confirmations, so please continue to check these pages for additional highlights.

Highlights:


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Tuesday March 10

7:00Registration
8:15TechConnect World Innovation Conference - Plenary Keynotes
10:00Coffee Breaks 10:00AM-11:00AM
10:30Bio in Space Symposium- Funding Opportunities for R&D in Microgravity: Discussing Public and Private Funding Mechanisms for Commercial Space Ventures
10:30TechConnect Innovation Spotlights: Biotech & Medical I
10:30SBIR Session: To Be Announced
10:30Micro & Bio Fluidics
10:30Innovations in Nanoparticle Synthesis & Manufacturing
10:30Supporting the Translation of Research-based Technologies to Products
10:30Innovative Approaches in Wastewater Treatment: Enhancing Sustainability and Efficiency
10:30Biopharmaceutical Manufacturing
10:30Applying Energy Storage
10:30Opportunities for Innovation in Critical Materials Supply Chains
10:30SPM: Multi-modal
10:30TechConnect Horizons Workforce Development Program: Keynote
10:30Advances in Quantum Technologies-Keynotes
11:00TechConnect Horizons Workforce Development Program: Technical Tutorials
11:30TechConnect Innovation Spotlights: Biotech & Medical II
11:30TechConnect Innovation Spotlights: Space, Defense, and Mobility
11:30SBIR Session: To Be Announced
12:00TechConnect Horizons Workforce Development Program: Group Photo
12:15Lunch Break
1:00TechConnect World Expo and SBIR/STTR Pavilion Open
1:15SBIR Session: Finding Help - Getting Started
1:30Programming Biology for Material Innovation
1:30TechConnect Innovation Spotlights: AI and Digital Transformation I
1:30TechConnect Innovation Spotlights: Energy and Sustainability I
1:30Bio in Space Innovation Challenge
1:30Advances in Quantum Technologies - Addressing Real World Challenges
1:30Drug, Biomolecule, and Vaccine Delivery
1:30Advanced Materials for Engineering Applications
1:30Carbon Nanomaterials & Applications
1:30The Role of Universities in Creating Innovation Ecosystems
1:30Innovative Approaches in Wastewater Treatment: Enhancing Sustainability and Efficiency
1:30AI Innovations – Healthcare and Characterization
1:30SPM: New Materials
1:30Bio-based Materials and Cellulose
1:30Battery Energy Storage I
1:30Innovations in Magnet Materials and Manufacturing Techniques
1:30Revolutionary Fibers and Textiles Innovation Challenge
1:30TechConnect Horizons Workforce Development Program
2:15TechConnect Horizons Workforce Development Program: Career Networking Session 1
2:15TechConnect Horizons Workforce Development Program: Behind the Scenes with an Industry Recruiter
2:15SBIR Session: Small Business Success Stories
2:00DARPA Meeting (Private)
2:30TechConnect Innovation Spotlights: AI and Digital Transformation II
2:30TechConnect Innovation Spotlights: Energy and Sustainability II
3:15SBIR Session: Innovation Ecosystem for Deep Tech Development
3:30TechConnect Horizons Workforce Development Program: Career Networking Session 2
3:30TechConnect Horizons Workforce Development Program: Behind the Scenes with an Industry Recruiter
3:30Manufacturing USA Institutes: A Partner for Catalyzing Innovation Coast to Coast
4:00Bio in Space Innovation Challenge-Winners Announced
4:00TechConnect World Expo, Technical Poster Session I, and Expo Social (4:00 - 6:00)
4:00SBIR/STTR Pavilion Reception
4:00Programming Biology for Material Innovation-Posters
4:00Biomaterials & Medical Devices - Posters
4:00Biopharmaceutical Manufacturing-Posters
4:00Drug, Biomolecule, and Vaccine Delivery - Posters
4:00Advanced Materials for Engineering Applications - Posters
4:00Wastewater Treatment - Posters
4:00Bio-based Materials & Cellulose - Posters
4:00Energy Storage I - Posters
4:00Critical Materials I - Posters
4:00AI Innovations - Posters
4:00Graphene - Posters
4:00Sustainability & Efficiency - Posters
4:00University Innovations - Posters

Wednesday March 11

7:00Registration
8:30TechConnect World Innovation Conference - Business Keynotes
8:30Advances in Critical Mineral Separation Technologies
9:00Coffee Breaks 9:00AM-10:00AM
9:00Advances in Fiber and Textile Technology
9:00Next-gen polymers: Lightweight and Advanced Engineering
9:00Graphene and 2D Materials
9:00SPM: Solid-liquid interfaces
9:00Adaptive Surfaces and Functional Coatings
9:00Advancements in Implantables, Injectibles & Wound Healing Devices
9:30TechConnect Horizons Workforce Development Program, Future Innovators – Panel Discussion
9:30Biorefining and Petroleum & Gas Refining
9:30Energy Harvesting & Carbon Capture
9:30Novel Approaches to Combat Biofilms I
9:30Battery Energy Storage II
9:30DOE EPIC Prize Challenge Pitch Competition
9:30LEAN Power and EMC2 Industry Day (open to all conference attendees), 9:30AM-12:00PM
9:30Reducing Injuries in Small Businesses: Program Implementation and Technology Readiness
9:30SBIR Session: To Be Announced
9:30Impact of Photonics
10:15Collaboration to Advance Storage
10:30SBIR Session: Commercializing Your SBIR-funded Technology: Federal Programs
10:30Future Innovators – Opportunities and Student/Postdoc Pitch Contest for Emerging Entrepreneurs
10:30Bio in Space Symposium - There and Back Again: Understanding Pathways to Orbit and the Operational Rresources in LEO
10:30SPM: Data-driven and Automated
10:30DARPA Session (invited)
11:30SBIR Session: DOE SBIR: Catalyzing Commercialization through Public Private Partnerships
11:30Future Innovators – Keynote
11:30TechConnect Innovation Spotlights Featuring MSD Prevention Challenge Finalists
12:15Lunch Break
1:00TechConnect World Expo and SBIR/STTR Pavilion Open
1:00TechConnect Horizons Workforce Development Program: Career Awareness Fair
1:15AI for Grid Resilience and Security Challenge
1:15SBIR Session: Dual Use Technology: How To Serve Government and Commercial Customers
1:30U.S. National Strategic Plan for Advanced Manufacturing Town Hall
1:30Advances in Fiber and Textile Technology
1:30Accelerating Wide Bandgap Innovation through the ME Commons CLAWS Hub: Technology, Transition, and Talent Development
1:30Wearables & Data Analytics
1:30Novel Approaches to Combat Biofilms II
1:30Next-Generation Sensors for Real-World Monitoring
1:30AI, Modeling, and Simulation for Advanced Materials Design
1:30SPM: Multi-frequency
1:30Additive Manufacturing: From Micro/Nanoscale Fabrication to Real-Time Quality Assessment
1:30Advanced Surface Architectures for Optical, Thermal, and Environmental Performance
1:30Next Generation Composites
1:30Resource Recovery and Waste Reduction
1:30Storage Beyond Batteries
1:30Innvoations in Critical Materials
1:30TechConnect Innovation Spotlights: Electronics and Microsystems
1:30TechConnect Innovation Spotlights: Advanced Materials
2:15SBIR Session: Navigating SBIR Government Phase IIIs
2:30Future‑Ready by Design: How the FBI Builds Continuous Innovation
2:30TechConnect Innovation Spotlights: Advanced Materials and Manufacturing
3:15SBIR Session: Working with Defense Primes
3:30DOE EPIC Prize Challenge Winner Announcement
4:00TechConnect World Expo, Technical Poster Session II, and Expo Social (4:00 - 6:00)
4:00SBIR/STTR Pavilion Reception
4:00Sustainability & Efficiency Innovations - Posters
4:00Advances in Fiber and Textile Technology-Posters
4:00Biofilms - Posters
4:00Photonics - Posters
4:00Sensors - Posters
4:00AI for Materials Discovery - Posters
4:00Polymers for Healthcare - Posters
4:00Precision Health & Diagnostics - Posters
4:00Additive Manufacturing - Posters
4:00Composites - Posters
4:00Engineering Surfaces & Coatings - Posters
4:00Critical Materials II - Posters
4:00Semiconductors - Posters
4:00PFAS and Emerging Contaminant Remediation - Posters
4:00Energy Storage II - Posters
4:00TechConnect Horizons Workforce Development Program- Posters

Thursday March 12

7:30Registration
8:30SBIR/STTR Innovator Training Workshop 8:30am-4:30pm (Additional Registration Required)
8:30Extraction of Critical Minerals from Diverse Sources
9:00PFAS and Emerging Contaminant Remediation
9:00Molecular and Physiological Sensors for Precision Health
9:00Advanced Manufacturing Innovation
9:00AI Innovations
9:00Polymer-Based Material Design  and Fabrication Innovations Positioned to Improve Healthcare
9:00Precision Health and Diagnostics
9:00SPM: Nanomechanics
9:00Keys to Storage Commercialization and Deployment
9:00Semiconductor Industry: Challenges and Opportunities
9:00TechConnect Innovation Spotlights: Advanced Materials, AI, Biotech, and Defense
9:00TechConnect Horizons Workforce Development Program, Supporting Emerging Technology Manufacturing Workforce and Development
10:00Wearable Sensor Technologies for Extreme Environments
10:00TechConnect Horizons Workforce Development Program, Supporting Emerging Technology Manufacturing Workforce and Development
10:00TechConnect Innovation Spotlights: Advanced Materials, AI, Biotech, and Defense
12:00Lunch Break
1:15Critical Materials - Workshop (open to all conference attendees)




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