Innovation Foundry (IF17) Event

Submit NLT 22 August 2025 11:59 PM ET / U.S. Citizens Only

Purpose
SOFWERX and ICWERX, in collaboration with USSOCOM’s Directorate of Science and Technology (S&T) and the Intelligence Community (IC), will host the seventeenth Innovation Foundry event (IF17) in Chantilly, VA. This event aims to bring together Special Operations Forces (SOF) and IC personnel, industry, academia, national laboratories, and futurists to explore and ideate around future scenarios and missions. The theme of IF17 is, ‘Field-Forward Operations – Future Challenges for SOF and the IC in Data Dense Environments'.

USSOCOM S&T has developed and refined a unique process, the Innovation Cycle, to engage technology pioneers and leaders, and to discover and develop high risk, innovative, and disruptive concepts, capabilities and technologies for future on-boarding. This Innovation Foundry is the first phase of the Innovation Cycle and will be focused on idea generation. Deliverables for IF17 will include preliminary capability concepts targeting the defined problem areas which may impact SOF and IC operations in the 2035 timeframe in global forward, potentially austere, areas. This event will be followed by (1) a Rapid Capability Assessment (RCA) to further develop the preliminary capability concepts, and (2) a series of Integrated Technology Sprints (ITS), to demonstrate proofs of concept.

Why You Should Participate
The event will be a compelling opportunity for leading minds and innovators in industry, academia, labs, and government, as well as subject matter experts (SMEs) to collaborate and ideate with other experts.

During IF17, selected participants will ideate, collaborate, and develop concepts for the future needs of SOF and IC operators and analysts. USSOCOM also uses Innovation Foundries to build key relationships with entrepreneurs and technology developers.

Who Should Participate?
We are interested in applications from the following areas of expertise but if you feel you have specific innovative ideas to contribute, please provide a short background of why you think your experience can bring novel solutions in this space. The following areas of expertise or interest include, but are not limited to:

• Advanced Energy Systems
• Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning (Cognitive Architecture, Ethics, Governance, Safety & Alignment, etc.)
• Building Automation Systems (BAS) Specialists
• Communications Technologies
• Computer System Linguistics
• Cybersecurity
• Data Science
• Edge Computing
• Electrical Engineering
• Facility Managers
• Industrial Engineering
• Information Operations
• Internet of Things
• Information Technology
• Logistics
• Manufacturing (e.g., Additive, Subtractive, and Non-traditional)
• Material Science and Engineering
• NPU High Performance Compute
• Position, Navigation and Timing Systems
• Precision Manufacturing
• Red Teaming/Penetration Testing
• Robotics and Autonomous Systems
• Sensors
• Situational Awareness
• Smart Buildings and Infrastructure
• SOF and IC Operations
• Subterranean Environments
• Surveillance and Reconnaissance
• Wearable Technologies

Problem Statement
Field-forward operations refer to the real-time or near real-time collection, processing, analysis, and dissemination of intelligence information in the field or at the source to support mission planning and tactical decision making. These activities rely on advanced technologies, including diverse sensors, smart systems, distributed networks, communication platforms, and AI-driven analytical suites. While these technologies offer significant advantages by providing actionable insights in real-time, they also introduce vulnerabilities (e.g., data reliability and accuracy, cybersecurity, processing speed, energy efficiency). Addressing these vulnerabilities is crucial for maximizing the potential of these technologies while minimizing risks, thereby enabling mission success.

To address these challenges, SOF & the IC will need to:

• Develop a vision for the future challenges posed by data dense intelligence operations
• Identify and understand risks, vulnerabilities, and adversarial actions that threaten these operations and take appropriate measures with partners and allies at machine speed
• Develop plans and policies to enable operational advantage in global field environments and exploit dual-use capabilities
• Identify, recruit, and train for the skillsets required to conduct future interagency field-forward operations

What you will do at IF17:

• Create a vision for what might be the characteristics of the 2035 field-forward operational environment from a SOF and IC perspective
• Discuss what might be the predominant technology challenges within the future operational environment
• Conceptualize how these technologies might be applied towards field-forward operational challenges

To describe what might be, participants will:

• Not limit themselves to mere extensions of today’s environment, technologies, and processes
• Describe innovative concepts for the future operational environment in a science-fiction-like manner
• Identify the investments SOF and the IC need to make now in order to succeed in this challenging future operational environment

Event Timeline
Phase 1 – 04 August 2025 to 22 August 2025 Submissions Open: Futurists and visionaries from industry, academia, government and national labs who are experts in the areas of interest listed above and those who are specialized in SOF Operations are encouraged to participate in the IF17 Event by submitting a CV *(Curriculum Vitae) below NLT 22 August 2025.

*Please note: each individual must submit their own CV for possible SME selection for the event

Phase 2 – 25 August 2025 to 12 September 2025 SME Review: SME submissions will be reviewed; SOFWERX will be notified of invited participants. All participants will be notified of their attendance status o/a 19 September.

Phase 3 – 28 October 2025 to 30 October 2025 Innovation Foundry 16 Event: During the event, selected participants will collaborate and ideate with fellow SMEs, the USSOCOM S&T Directorate, and the Intelligence Community on the concept areas above. Selectees should plan for workdays from 0800-1700 Eastern time.

This event will be held in person at a location in Chantilly, Virginia.

Phase 4 – Path Forward:
After completion of the Innovation Foundry Event, USSOCOM S&T and organizers may negotiate awards which fall under any combination of the following: 

• Business to business research and development agreement as a sub-award through the SOFWERX or ICWERX Partnership Intermediary Agreement (PIA) (15 U.S. Code Section 3715)
• OTA for research or prototype projects (10 U.S. Code Sections 4021, 4022, 50 U.S. Code Section 3024)
  • An award under 10 U. S. Code, Section 4022 or 50 U.S. Code Section 3024 may result in the further award of a follow-on production agreement without additional competition based on successful prototype completion. The Government may make this follow-on production award based upon successful prototype criteria, which will be determined for each prototype project.
• Procurement for experimental purposes (10 U.S. Code Section 4023)
• Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (15 U.S. Code Section 3710a)
• Prizes for advanced technology achievements (10 U. S. Code Section 4025) and/or prize competitions (15 U.S. Code 3719)
• FAR-based procurement contract 

NOTE: Awardees may need to be compliant with NIST SP 800-171, Protecting Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) in Non-Federal Systems and Organizations 
 

How You Can Participate   
Industry, Academia, Government, and National Labs Participants  

1. Request to Attend as a SME: Click Here to Request to Attend (NLT 22 August)

Questions?

For event-related questions, please contact IF17 Team