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, Corporate Meet and Greet - 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, Corporate Meet and Greet - 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 SBIR/STTR Program Smart Cities Sesssions
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM Lunch (On Your Own)
1:30 PM - 4:00 PM Technical Program Sessions Business Program Sessions SBIR/STTR Program
 

  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
8:20TechConnect World Innovation Conference - Plenary Keynotes
10:00Coffee Breaks
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: SBIR 101 - The Basics about the SBIR Program
10:30Micro & Bio Fluidics
10:30Innovations in Nanoparticle Synthesis & Manufacturing
10:30Advanced Materials for Engineering Applications I
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: Agency Reverse Pitches
12:00TechConnect Horizons Workforce Development Program: Group Photo
12:15Lunch Break
1:00TechConnect World Expo and SBIR/STTR Pavilion Open
1:30Programming Biology for Material Innovation
1:30TechConnect Innovation Spotlights: AI and Digital Transformation I
1:30TechConnect Innovation Spotlights: Energy and Sustainability I
1:30SBIR Session: Navigating SBIR/STTR Agency Differences
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 II
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
2:00DARPA Meeting (Private)
2:30TechConnect Innovation Spotlights: AI and Digital Transformation II
2:30TechConnect Innovation Spotlights: Energy and Sustainability II
2:30SBIR Session: Finding Help - Getting Started
3:15SBIR Session: Agency Differences - Focus on Evaluation
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
9:00Advances in Fiber and Textile Technology
9:00Biorefining and Petroleum & Gas Refining
9:00Energy Harvesting & Carbon Capture
9:00Graphene and 2D Materials
9:00SPM: Solid-liquid interfaces
9:00Battery Energy Storage II
9:00Adaptive Surfaces and Functional Coatings
9:00Advancements in Implantables, Injectibles & Wound Healing Devices
9:30TechConnect Horizons Workforce Development Program, Future Innovators – Panel Discussion
9:30Next-gen polymers: Lightweight and Advanced Engineering
9:30Novel Approaches to Combat Biofilms I
9:30DOE EPIC Prize Challenge Pitch Competition
9:30LEAN Power and EMC2 Industry Day (open to all conference attendees)
9:30Reducing Injuries in Small Businesses: Program Implementation and Technology Readiness
9:30SBIR Session V
9:30Impact of Photonics
10:30Bio in Space Symposium - There and Back Again: Understanding Pathways to Orbit and the Operational Rresources in LEO
10:30SBIR Session: Small Business Success Stories
10:30Future Innovators – Opportunities and Student/Postdoc Pitch Contest for Emerging Entrepreneurs
10:30Collaboration to Advance Storage
10:30SPM: Data-driven and Automated
10:30DARPA Session (invited)
11:30SBIR Session: Commercializing Your SBIR-funded Technology: Federal Programs
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: Navigating SBIR Government Phase IIIs
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: Working with Defense Primes
2:30Future‑Ready by Design: How the FBI Builds Continuous Innovation
2:30TechConnect Innovation Spotlights: Advanced Materials and Manufacturing
3:15SBIR Session: Crossing over from one Agency to Another
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
9:00SBIR/STTR Session TBA
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
10:00SBIR/STTR Session TBA
11:00SBA (Private Meeting)
12:00Lunch Break
1:15Critical Materials - Workshop (open to all conference attendees)




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