Get ready, tech enthusiasts: More than 30 of the hottest technology companies are gearing up to show off their stuff at the 2024 Blue Tech Demo Day at the Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC) Newport Chapter on August 29. This year's event is hosted by NUWC Newport Chapter's Northeast Tech Bridge in collaboration with non-profit 401 Tech Bridge and is geared to connect innovative small businesses with leading U.S. Navy scientists, engineers and Department of Defense heavyweights.
The goal? To get cutting-edge technology into the hands of Soldiers quickly. “We want to showcase the innovative technologies of these small businesses in a mission-relevant way to our scientists and engineers on campus,” says Julie Kallfeltz, director of Northeast Tech Bridge. “Each company brings something unique to the table that will intrigue our engineers, laying the groundwork for future partnerships and meaningful engagement.”
Underwater demonstrations will be held extensively in operational areas throughout Narragansett Bay, including the Narragansett Bay Test Facility (NTBF) in Division Newport, while Sail Newport at Fort Adams State Park will feature both indoor and underwater presentations. The showcase will begin at 10:30 a.m., with closing remarks and networking scheduled for 4 p.m. Expect to hear from luminaries such as Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, Division Newport's Technical Director Marie Bussiere, Christian Cowan of the University of Rhode Island, and Scott Bewley of NavalX.
The participating technology companies aren't just here for show, they're here to execute a mission. The teams will tackle cross-disciplinary tasks that include identifying and analyzing objects of interest, transmitting that data to the surface, and determining the best course of action. Two teams will depart from the NTBF and the other four from Sail Newport. Each team will be assigned to one of three operational areas and will execute their missions one after the other.
After the mission, companies will have the opportunity to showcase their capabilities to an audience of over 150 people, including key figures from Division Newport, the Office of Naval Research, industry and academia. This is not just a one-off event, but the grand finale of a series of technical presentations held over the past few months, focusing on cross-domain communications, digital twins, sensors and unmanned vehicles.
Space at Sail Newport is limited, so you must pre-register to attend. Don't expect to get automatic admission just yet; seats are limited. For more information and to try your luck at registering, visit 401techbridge.org/event/bluetide-2024.
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