DARPA Surgical Competition (DSC) Second Industry Day

DARPA's Biological Technologies Office issued a Special Notice announcing a virtual Second Industry Day for the DARPA Surgical Competition (DSC), scheduled for November 4, 2026, from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM Eastern Time, with advance registration due November 2, 2026. No set-aside is used. The event educates potential competitors who could not attend the first Industry Day about the DSC vision and goals and provides a live question-and-answer session with the DSC team before the Qualifications deadline on November 13, 2026. Registration runs through https://events.sa-meetings.com/DSCSecondIndustryDay, and attendance is voluntary and not required for DSC participation.

The competition seeks to establish the state of the art for autonomous robotic trauma surgery through three evaluation phases: Component Gates (medical knowledge, physical capability, and rapid learning), Surgical Collaboration (assistive and collaborative capabilities with a human surgeon), and Surgical Independence (autonomous surgical planning and execution). It is conducted at the Unclassified level.

Eligibility is limited to individuals 18 years or older who are not on the Specially Designated Nations list and who meet all Terms & Conditions requirements. Non-U.S. citizens must submit a DARPA Form 60 by October 26, 2026, and foreign government personnel must submit an Official Visit Request through their Embassy. Prizes are authorized under 10 U.S.C. 4025, subject to appropriated funds availability, and winners must provide a U.S. taxpayer identification number or social security number.

Questions go to SurgicalCompetition@darpa.mil. The notice, posted October 14, 2026, is not a Request for Proposals or Request for Information.