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Innovation Showcase

US Air Force

This Showcase is sponsored by Doolittle, in partnership with its foundational stakeholder, the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL).

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About the Air Force Research Laboratory

AFRL is the Air Force’s only organization wholly dedicated to leading the discovery, development, and integration of warfighting technologies for our air, space and cyberspace forces. We trace our roots to the vision of airpower pioneers who understood science as key to air supremacy. The passionate commitment of AFRL people to realize this vision has helped create the world’s best air, space and cyberspace force.

“We fight today’s fight and envision and create the future Air Force.”

Learn more about the Air Force Research Laboratory.

About Doolittle Institute

Established in 2012 as a 501(c)(3) non-profit named after Jimmy Doolittle and the famed Doolittle Raiders, Doolittle Institute is the cornerstone DEFENSEWERX Hub. In 2015, the Doolittle Institute expanded its customer base to include U.S. SOCOM with the establishment of SOFWERX. To appeal to a broader audience and as a “Corporate” entity operating multiple facilities through PIAs, the Doolittle Institute announced in an August 2017 rebranding campaign it would begin doing business as DEFENSEWERX. Around the same time, AFRL/RW chose to retain the name “Doolittle Institute” for the Northwest Florida DEFENSEWERX facility operated under the PIA between DEFENSEWERX and the Air Force Research Lab at Eglin AFB.

The Doolittle Institute is an AFRL Innovation Institute that supports the Air Force Research Labs Munitions Directorate by working to license and commercialize AFRL/RW technologies in the private sector through technology transfer, rapid technology delivery to the warfighter via technology transition, identify and foster new R&D partnerships through innovation and collaboration, and develop AFRL’s current and future workforce.

Learn more about the Doolittle Institute.

About the Wright Brothers Institute

Located in Dayton, Ohio with its rich heritage of innovation and invention, Wright Brothers Institute (WBI) seeks to continue this heritage by stimulating unique and innovative technical solutions to national security and public safety needs. Working in partnership with its foundational stakeholder, the Air Force Research Laboratory, WBI operates as a neutral enabler and place for multidisciplinary joint (government, industry, and academia) teams to come together in intense collaborations focusing on complex problems or challenges. The outcome of these collaborations can range from a better and more complete understanding of a problem to the rapid development of actual prototypes. WBI leverages this work for its other foundational stakeholder, the Dayton Region, to stimulate and support the growth of technology companies, to foster technology transition and transfer to commercial endeavors, and to enhance science and math educational opportunities.

Learn more about the Wright Brothers Institute.

What Challenge will you solve today?

We trace our roots to the vision of airpower pioneers who understood science as key to air supremacy. The passionate commitment of AFRL people to realize this vision has helped create the world’s best air, space and cyberspace force.

Industry

Defense

Headquarters

USA

Total Challenges Run

21

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How does the Challenge process work?

Follow these steps to participate in Innocentive challenges and potentially win awards.

1

Register as a Solver

To register for a Solver account and join Innocentive:

  • Go to the Innocentive Challenge Center registration page.
  • Enter an email address, which will be used to login to your account.
  • Complete the remaining required fields including: (1) Name, (2) Display Name and (3) Location.
  • Create a password. You will be guided to ensure you create a strong password to protect your account.
  • Click the Register button.
  • After you complete the registration form, you will receive an email notification confirming your registration and containing instructions to activate your account.
  • Click the link in the email. You will be asked to accept the Innocentive Terms of Use to complete the account activation process.
2

Review the Challenge Agreement

The Challenge Agreement (formerly Challenge Specific Agreement or CSA) is a legal document that outlines a Solver's rights and responsibilities if they elect to submit a solution in response to an Innocentive Challenge. The Challenge Agreement specifies if and how IP will be transferred between Solver and Seeker; it may also specify any special rules, such as exclusionary rules for categories of Solvers, that apply to the Challenge.

You must accept the Challenge Agreement to be able to submit a solution to the Challenge. Be sure to read and understand the Challenge Agreement for each Challenge because you will be subject to the applicable Challenge conditions.

Challenge Agreements provide Solvers with clear details around participation, legal IP transfer (if applicable), and details around Prize and Scouting Challenges.

3

Submit a Solution

To submit a Solution to an Innocentive Challenge as a member of the Solver community:

  1. Go to the Innocentive Challenge Center.
  2. Select a Challenge.
  3. Click Register Interest & Accept Agreement.
  4. Agree to the Challenge Agreement.
  5. Click Add Solution.
  6. Enter any required information.
  7. Attach your solution files.
  8. Click Publish.

You will receive an email confirmation of receipt of your solution to your registered email address.

4

Win

Receive cash awards or collaboration agreements if your solution or proposal is accepted by Seeker organizations.

Your solution will be evaluated following the due date for submissions. You will then be notified via email as to whether your solution has been successful. In some challenges, you will also receive feedback on your submission.

Award Potential

We've awarded more than $60 million to thousands of Solvers from around the world.

The average award amount is approximately $20,000, but some challenges come with awards of over $100,000 or collaboration agreements.