The AFRL Regional Network – Midwest is thrilled to welcome you to the latest edition of Around the Region, an exciting addition to your inbox that promises to keep you in the know regarding all Midwest Network happenings.
With a mission to share the latest news, trends, insights, events, and intriguing stories, the team has crafted this newsletter as your trusted companion on a journey of innovation.
June 2026 Edition
Update on Network, 2026 Funding Call 1 Cancelled
In case you missed our previous email announcement, the AFRL Regional Network – Midwest would like to share an important update regarding the future of the AFRL Regional Network program. AFRL has decided not to move forward with a new solicitation while evaluating the Regional Network model for future actions. As a result, the current contract period for both Regional Networks will conclude on February 10, 2027. This decision is not a reflection of our network’s performance. Importantly, the Midwest Network will continue normal operations throughout the remainder of the contract period and remains committed to supporting members, partnerships, and ongoing activities during this transition period.
As part of this decision, we will not move forward with the planned 2026 Funding Call 1 award cycle. While the Midwest Network recognizes the strong interest and engagement surrounding future funding opportunities, current limitations prevent the responsible launch of a new cycle. Current Midwest Network awardees will continue through their established periods of performance, and our team remains committed to supporting ongoing projects and member activities throughout the remainder of the contract period.
Since its launch, the AFRL Regional Network – Midwest has helped strengthen connections across academia, industry, and government organizations; supported innovative research collaborations; and expanded engagement with the AFRL technical enterprise throughout the region. Moving forward, the Midwest Network will continue focusing on current awardees, facilitating connections with AFRL and partner organizations, highlighting member capabilities and successes, and helping stakeholders explore future opportunities beyond the current contract period. While this contract is concluding, the relationships and collaborative foundation established through the Midwest Network will continue to have lasting impact across the region.
Alternative Funding Pathways and Innovation Opportunities
While the AFRL Regional Network – Midwest will not move forward with a new internally funded award cycle, there remain a number of active federal innovation and research funding opportunities that may be of interest to members across academia and industry. Many of these programs continue to support dual-use technologies, advanced manufacturing, aerospace systems, autonomy, materials, AI and machine learning, and other areas aligned with the defense ecosystem priorities.
One major opportunity is the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs. The SBIR/STTR program provides competitive funding opportunities for small businesses developing innovative technologies with defense and commercial applications, including opportunities that encourage collaboration with universities and research institutions. The program supports projects across a broad range of technology areas and remains one of the largest sources of early-stage federal technology funding in the United States.
Members may also wish to explore opportunities through the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), which regularly releases open solicitations focused on rapidly transitioning commercial technologies into defense applications. DIU opportunities often emphasize operationally relevant solutions in areas such as autonomy, cybersecurity, energy, AI, logistics, space, and advanced manufacturing. Similarly, AFWERX — the innovation arm of the Department of the Air Force powered by AFRL — continues to offer a wide range of funding pathways for startups, small businesses, and research partners through its SBIR/STTR programs and transition-focused initiatives. AFWERX has supported thousands of contracts and technology transition efforts designed to accelerate innovation for Air and Space Force missions.
For university researchers and teams focused on fundamental science, the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR) continues to provide funding opportunities through Broad Agency Announcements (BAAs), educational and fellowship programs, multidisciplinary university research initiatives, and young investigator programs. AFOSR supports basic research efforts that advance foundational scientific knowledge and contribute to future Air and Space Force capabilities across a wide range of disciplines.
The AFRL Regional Network – Midwest team encourages members to continue exploring these and other external funding pathways while maintaining the collaborative relationships and partnerships developed through the Midwest Network community. As additional opportunities, events, and resources become available, we will continue sharing information that may support member engagement and future research and technology transition activities.
Partner Feature: Transparent Sky
Transparent Sky advances real-time situational awareness through Wide Area Motion Imaging (WAMI), providing persistent, high-resolution monitoring across large geographic areas. The company’s WAMICam™ systems combine advanced imaging, georeferencing, and real-time data processing to deliver the world’s first live 3D animated surveillance from both manned and unmanned platforms. Designed to be lightweight, deployable, and accessible, the systems support applications ranging from intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) to disaster response, infrastructure security, traffic monitoring, and large-event operations.
For stakeholders across the AFRL Regional Network – Midwest, Transparent Sky offers potential value across defense, aerospace, autonomy, public safety, and advanced sensing initiatives. Universities, industry, and government partners may find opportunities to collaborate in areas such as computer vision, autonomous systems, sensor integration, and real-time operational awareness. Transparent Sky reduces the size, weight, power, and cost requirements traditionally associated with WAMI systems — in some cases by a factor of 100 or more — making advanced sensing more accessible and deployable.
Transparent Sky’s technologies are particularly relevant in dynamic, high-visibility operational environments. They recently conducted a flyover over the Indy 500 to gather low-resolution video data to combine with their high-resolution model, demonstrating their capability for real-time imaging. Transparent Sky collaborates with Rongjun Qin, a Full Professor in Geomatics and Computer Vision at Ohio State University, on the Midwest Regional Network-funded project, “Live 3D Gaussian Splatting for ISR,” which uses state-of-the-art sensing technology to develop highly realistic, dynamic 4D environments by capturing moving vehicles, pedestrians, and subtle scene changes.
As the AFRL Regional Network – Midwest continues connecting defense, industry, and research partners, organizations like Transparent Sky highlight the growing importance of deployable sensing technologies that can support both national security missions and commercial innovation.
Partner Feature: Hub for Innovation, Ventures and Entrepreneurship
Purdue University’s Hub for Innovation, Ventures, and Entrepreneurship (HIVE) is building a community for student founders and innovators working to turn ideas into real-world solutions. Operated by the College of Engineering, HIVE supports student-led startups focused on technology- or engineering-driven solutions by connecting students, faculty, alumni, and industry partners within a collaborative entrepreneurial ecosystem at Purdue.
Designed for students already actively building and exploring startup ventures, HIVE will bring together interdisciplinary teams from across campus who are looking to accelerate progress on their ideas. Through mentorship, community, and access to Purdue’s broader entrepreneurship & innovation network, HIVE helps student teams gain traction, test ideas, and move their ventures forward.
The HIVE’s emphasis on entrepreneurship, rapid prototyping, and industry engagement aligns closely with the AFRL Regional Network – Midwest’s mission to accelerate research and translation and strengthen regional innovation capacity. In turn, it represents a valuable bridge between academic innovation and defense-relevant technology development, creating opportunities for students to explore emerging technologies and collaborative innovation. Organizations looking to connect with emerging talent or support early-stage innovation, may find significant opportunities through engagement with HIVE and its student teams.
Beyond venture development, HIVE creates opportunities for students to grow as founders, build leadership experience, and collaborate across disciplines while advancing solutions with real-world impact. Student applications are currently open through Sunday, July 12, in preparation for the HIVE’s grand opening in August. Network members who work with Purdue undergraduate or graduate students are encouraged to share this opportunity with students actively building or exploring startup and innovation ventures.
Have you checked out the AFRL Regional Network – Midwest YouTube Channel? On this platform, partners have access to a variety of video content that includes:
Funded project video reports
Network promo videos
Informative and instructional videos
Stay tuned to all of our social media channels as new content will be added frequently!
Partner with Us
The AFRL Regional Network – Midwest is a unique opportunity to partner with the Air Force Research Lab. If you are interested in becoming a partner, please visit our Join Page for more information!
Get Featured in the Newsletter
If you or your organization would like to be featured in an issue of Around the Region, please email us at afrlmwst@purdue.edu. A representative will then reach out to you for additional information.
At the AFRL Regional Network – Midwest, we are dedicated to developing next-generation research and technology to support the Air Force mission by providing analysis, development, and testing capabilities that span multiple science and engineering disciplines. From propulsion to communications, materials to sensors, our research focuses on advancing mission capability and accelerating technology transitions throughout the life cycle of programs.
At the Midwest Network, we understand the importance of collaboration in advancing technology and mission capability. We facilitate partnerships between industry and academia to develop new means to address the current and future needs of our customers.
