Challenge Opportunities

UTIC’s Challenge program is focused on identifying innovative solutions to pressing undersea technology, workforce development and supply chain challenges. Competing teams from academic and vocational programs in the AUKUS countries will be invited to submit innovative strategies and approaches focused on select marine and undersea challenge scenarios.  Teams will be judged by industry and defense experts and will compete for scholarship and academic program funding awards starting at $15,000.

“The partnership between Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States is an opportunity to share both physical resources and intellectual capital to improve security and trilateral ties.  Maintaining long-term growth and innovation within AUKUS will require developing the future workforce. Industry and academia will need to partner to build a solid foundation for the next generation of innovators and manufacturers,” stated U.S. Senator Jack Reed, Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee.

  INAUGURAL CHALLENGE (2023-2024): WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT

Seeking innovative strategies to strengthen the training environment for technologists who develop critical undersea technology and manufacturing professionals who build and support undersea technologies.

Timing (to be finalized):

Launch and Expressions of Interest: Sep 2023
Q&A and Submissions: Oct – Dec 2023
Judging: Dec 2023 – Jan 2024
Winners Notified: Feb – Mar 2024
Winners Recognized: Apr 2024

Please complete the form below to request more information and register your interest in this challenge.

Additional information about the Workforce Development challenge will be posted soon.

  NEXT CHALLENGE (2024): SUPPLY CHAIN

Seeking innovative solutions to undersea technology supply chain challenges including transferring innovation from concept into the supply chain, and growing the flow of critical technology through the supply chain to deployment. Timing to be announced late 2023.