Discover Collaboration Opportunities: AFRL Virtual Forum

The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) published a Special Notice announcing a virtual forum titled "Discover Collaboration Opportunities: AFRL Virtual Forum" scheduled for July 30, 2025. The half-day event ran from 1:00 PM to 3:30 PM EDT via Microsoft Teams and was classified as unclassified. AFRL, operating under the Department of the Air Force Materiel Command Research Laboratory, designed this forum to provide insights into their mission, research and development efforts, and collaboration opportunities. The event targeted small business owners, entrepreneurs, technology developers, and anyone interested in partnering with AFRL. Registration was required through a military forms portal, with the Teams link provided upon successful registration.

The forum's primary objective was to educate potential partners about upcoming funding opportunities, partnership programs, and practical guidance for working with AFRL. The agenda included presentations on business engagement processes covering registration and certification requirements, AFWERX SBIR/STTR program opportunities presented by Col Nathan Stuckey, and contracting insights including discussion of an upcoming AMAC Request for Information expected in early August 2025. The event specifically welcomed small businesses, defense contractors, and technology innovators interested in SBIR/STTR programs and other contracting prospects. AFRL emphasized multiple collaboration pathways including Basic Research, Applied Research, and Advanced Technology Development investments across focus areas such as Human Performance, Information, Materials & Manufacturing, and Sensors. The forum served as an informational gateway for companies seeking to understand AFRL's investment categories, solicitation schedules for fiscal year 2025, and various engagement mechanisms including challenge programs and commercial solutions openings.