|
MARCH 10-12, 2026 | RALEIGH, NC |
Produced by |
Powered by |
Advancing AI for the Nation’s Most Critical Infrastructure
The intersection of AI, critical infrastructure, and energy grids are a symbiotic necessity, where AI serves as both the primary driver of new electricity demand and the essential tool for managing a complex and secure critical infrastructure. Inspired by the Department of Energy’s emerging Genesis Mission, this Challenge invites innovators to explore how advanced AI models and tools can support national critical infrastructure.
Areas of Interest:
Operational Intelligence & Automation
- Agentic AI for Grid Reliability
- Self-Healing Infrastructure
- Simulation/Digital Twins
Distributed Energy Integration
- Hyper-local Forecasting
- Dynamic Line Rating (DLR)
- Virtual Power Plants (VPPs)
Managing the AI-Driven Demand Shock
- Data Center Load Flexibility
- On-site Generation & SMRs
- Transmission Optimization
Security and Resilience
- AI-Enhanced Cybersecurity
- AI for air-gapped or restricted networks
- Sovereign AI Clouds
AI for Transportation & Traffic Management
- Fleet and logistics optimization
- Energy-aware routing and congestion management Resilient operations during disruptions or emergencies
AI for Video & Sensor Data Management
- Intelligent triage of video or imagery streams
- Event detection and anomaly identification
- Reducing cognitive load for human operators
Other AI Applications for Grid Resilience
Who Should Participate
- Businesses of all sizes developing advanced AI models, platforms, or tools that can be adapted for secure and classified environments
- National laboratories, manufacturers, utilities, and site operators seeking to co-develop AI capabilities for critical infrastructure
- Providers of secure, accredited cloud environments and AI development platforms capable of handling sensitive and classified data
Scope & Innovation Guardrails
- Mission Alignment – Solutions must clearly connect to grid resilience, urban infrastructure, or critical infrastructure security-adjacent operational environments.
- Security by Design – Proposals must demonstrate awareness of classified or high-sensitivity constraints and incorporate defense-in-depth thinking.
- Operational Realism – Solutions should reflect real deployment pathways within national labs, secure sites, or regulated infrastructure.
- Trust & Transparency – AI outputs must be interpretable and governable by human operators.
- Measurable Impact – Teams should define concrete performance metrics and anticipated operational benefits.
Pitch to Win
TechConnect will invite finalists to present their solutions to a panel of industry, government, and technical experts at TechConnect World Innovation Conference in March.
Finalist Benefits Include:
✓ |
Full conference pass |
✓ |
Visibility to government, laboratory, investment, and industry stakeholders |
✓ |
Eligibility for a $50,000 total prize pool |
If selected, finalists receive one full registration, pitch slot, highlight on the Challenge page, and access to TechConnect networking opportunities.
SUBMIT NOW Due February 10, 2026
Questions? Please contact Laura Murphree laura@techconnect.org.
