H4XLabs Mission: Accelerating the Scaling of Innovative Dual Use Technologies and Companies
In today’s rapidly evolving technology landscape, dual-use technology has emerged as a crucial frontier with profound implications for national security, and economic growth.. At its core, dual-use technology refers to innovations that have both civilian and military applications. It is this intersection that defines H4XLabs acceleration mission.
Our newsletter offers information and musings from both sides of the table: government innovation and the national security innovation base - startups, small businesses, capital providers.
Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) 3.0. We start our newsletter with the Defense Innovation Unit because they are leading the Department’s innovation initiatives, even though they are not de facto in charge.
DIU was formed 8 years ago on the back of a napkin, as a response to the late Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter’s Silicon Valley Visit. How Might We (the DoD) tap into the growing influence that the America tech world has on formulating innovations of the future? Its mission is to ensure that commercial technology is adopted at speed and scale
DIU 1.0 was about building Bridges to SV
DIU 2.0 Demonstrated Access to Commercial Tech via new agile contracting processes
DIU 3.0 which is about scaling the building and the adoption of these capabilities.
Space Corner
The Situational Awareness of Flying Elements (SAFE) Orbit Act was introduced in the Senate by a bipartisan group of lawmakers led by Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX). The bill would direct the Office of Space Commerce (OSC) to acquire and share unclassified data on space activities and traffic coordination to encourage the development of commercial space capabilities. (S.3658, January 25)
NASA astronaut and USSF Col. Nick Hague is set to become the first Space Force Guardian to launch to the International Space Station (ISS), scheduled for SpaceX's Crew-9 mission in August. (USSF, January 31)
The OSC and SpaceX have formed a no-exchange-of-funds Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) for research on automated collision avoidance and satellite conjunction assessment screenings, with OSC conducting an astrodynamics evaluation of SpaceX software under the terms of the agreement. (OSC, January 31)
The United States Space Force (USSF) intends to collect additional fees from launch companies for utilizing its spaceports, in accordance with a provision in the FY2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) aimed at supporting range modernization. (Defense News, January 31)
Lt. Gen. Philip Garrant has taken command of Space Systems Command (SCC), becoming the second-ever leader of SCC, succeeding Gen. Michael A. Guetlein, who has transitioned to serve as Vice Chief of Space Operations. (SSC, February 1)
NASA has announced Joseph Pelfrey as the permanent director of the agency’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, a role Pelfrey has been serving on an acting basis since July 2023. (NASA, February 5)
Startup Corner
Pitch at Space Symposium!
Space entrepreneurs: applications to pitch at Space Symposium close on this Friday, Feb 23, 2024!
The top applicants will be invited to pitch to a distinguished panel of innovation leaders and an audience of stakeholders and decision makers from industry and government, in this invite-only event.
If you are selected to pitch at the event, tickets to the event this year will be provided, and the winner will receive a suite of prizes from Space Foundation. You can read more details and apply here: https://www.space-symposium-pitch-competition-2024.com/
Deadline: 11:59 pm MST on Friday, February 23rd
Official press release: https://www.spacefoundation.org/2024/01/25/space-commerce-institute-starburst-aerospace/
H4XLabs comments: This may be a great opportunity for companies around seed stage with TRL 3-7 depending on the complexity of hardware!
If you have a moment….
Let us know how we’re doing, and how we can provide value to you!
Funding Opportunities
We posted some funding opportunities earlier this month as we transition our monthly newsletter releases from beginning of month to mid month. Check out what’s open here:
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February Funding Opportunities
Feb 7 2024: SBIR: Funding Available for Multiple Technologies| Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) | All DoD Agencies Innovators with solutions for junctional tourniquets, the rapid manufacturing of braces and splints, a pathogen inactivation device, or a wireless, wearable metabolic sensor may submit their solutions to the DHA for the opportunity …
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Additional opportunities:
US Special Operations Command (SOCOM)
USSOCOM SBIR Phase I
Topic: Handheld Kinetic Defeat of UAS
Topic Number: SOCOM244-004
Pre-Release: 1/17/2023
Opens: 1/31/2024
Submission Deadline: 3/5/2024
US Air Force and US Space Force
AFWERX and SpaceWERX SBIR/STTR Phase I
Topic Numbers: AFX245-PCSO1 (AFWERX SBIR), AFX245-PCSO2 (SpaceWERX SBIR); AFX24D-PTCSO1 (AFWERX STTR), AFX24D-PTCSO2 (SpaceWERX STTR)
Opens: 2/7/2024
Submission Deadline: 3/7/2024
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
NASA SBIR/STTR Phase I
Pre-Release: 12/21/2023
Opens: 1/09/2024
Submission Deadline: 3/11/2024
Army SBIR Phase I, Direct-to-Phase II
Topic Numbers: A244-007 through A244-013
Pre-Release: 2/1/2024
Opens: 2/15/2024
Submission Deadline: 3/20/2024
Department of Transportation (DOT)
DOT SBIR Phase I FY 24.2
Topic: Complete Streets AI Initiative Generating, Integrating, and Activating Data for Mobility
Pre-Release: 2/1/2024
Opens: 3/11/2024
Submission Deadline: 4/25/2024
Our Events
Where Will We Be? Tag us or email us to get involved!
4 April WeWork Roselyn, Washington DC Area Navy Launch Kickoff
8-10 April - Colorado Springs Space Symposium and Washington DC Sea Air Space Conference