Prize Challenge

Precision Manufacturing Innovation Challenge

Application Close: January 15, 2027

Advancing the Technologies that Build Everything Else

Decades of offshoring, workforce attrition, and underinvestment in advanced fabrication have left the United States facing a growing precision manufacturing challenge. At the same time, demand from the defense, space, automotive, and advanced industrial sectors is accelerating, placing unprecedented pressure on domestic manufacturing capacity and supply chains.

From naval platforms and commercial space systems to next-generation vehicles and critical infrastructure, tomorrow’s technologies depend on manufacturing processes capable of achieving increasingly demanding levels of precision, repeatability, and scale.

Precision Manufacturing Innovation Challenge will identify and accelerate the most promising precision manufacturing innovations and connect them directly with the industry, government, and investment leaders shaping the future of advanced manufacturing. The program seeks breakthrough technologies that strengthen domestic manufacturing capability through advances in precision fabrication, metrology, materials, joining, inspection, automation, and production processes.

Enter a curated, multi-stage validation and acceleration program focused on precision manufacturing that will:

  • Identify high-potential precision manufacturing technologies aligned with national priorities

  • Evaluate and advance promising solutions through expert technical and industry review

  • Showcase top innovators at the TechConnect World Innovation Conference

Application Close: January 15, 2027

Aligned to National Priority Areas

  • Resilient domestic manufacturing and supply chains

  • Advanced manufacturing for defense, aerospace, and critical infrastructure

  • Precision fabrication and production of next-generation materials and components

  • Increased manufacturing productivity, quality, and workforce resilience

  • Scalable technologies that improve speed, precision, and repeatability

AREAS OF INTEREST

  • Tight-Tolerance Machining and Metrology

  • Advanced Materials and Coatings (Superalloys, Ceramics, Composites)

  • Additive and Hybrid Manufacturing

  • Precision Joining, Forming and Assembly

  • Sensing, Inspection and Quality Assurance

  • Digital Manufacturing and Process Automation

  • Other

AWARD STRUCTURE

First Place: $25,000
Second Place:   $15,000
Third Place: $10,000

Timeline

  • Application & Review

    • Application Open: November 11, 2026
    • Application Close: January 15

  • Evaluation

    • Semifinalist Notification: Late January
    • Virtual Pitch: February 18

  • Finalist Stage

    • Finalist Notification: Mid February
    • Finalist Dinner: March 22-23 TBD
    • Live Pitch: March 23-25 TBD

  • Ongoing Impact

    • KPI tracking and engagement continue through spring 2029

HOW IT WORKS

Submissions are evaluated by internal and external experts across precision manufacturing, advanced production, materials, and industrial technologies.

Top applicants advance to a virtual pitch round.

Format: 5-minute pitch + 2-minute Q&A
Audience: Expert review panel
Pitch date: February 18

Ten (10) finalists will present their technologies live at TechConnect World Innovation Conference in Boston, MA.

Format: 5-minute pitch + 2-minute Q&A
Pitch date: March 23-25 TBD

Evaluation Criteria

  • Potential Impact
  • Scalability & Commercial Readiness
  • Innovation & Technical Merit
  • Market & Deployment Potential
  • Team Capability

PITCH TO WIN

Up to ten (10) finalists will present their technologies live at the TechConnect World Innovation Conference in March in Boston where industry, government, funding, and technical leaders will evaluate early-stage innovations with the potential to advance the materials, systems, and enabling technologies behind future fusion and fission energy systems.

QUESTIONS: Contact Katie O’Connor, katie.oconnor@ati.org

FINALIST BENEFITS

  • TechConnect World Innovation Conference pass

  • Visibility to industry, government, and technical leaders shaping the future of U.S. precision manufacturing

  • Connection to a growing ecosystem advancing next-generation manufacturing technologies and domestic industrial capability

  • Receive one free year of engineering software from MathWorks

  • Opportunity to win your share of $50,000 in non-dilutive prizes