TIDE Program

DEFTECH’s Technology and Innovation Discovery Evaluation (TIDE) program is North Carolina’s technology scouting program. The purpose of TIDE is to:

Discover – Explore companies within our ecosystem that have new technologies and innovations that can help to fill the gaps and needs of our federal agencies.

Educate – DEFTECH provides education to companies on the benefits of applying their technology and innovation to government and defense challenges. DEFTECH offers educational support through webinars and seminars on Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) programs, Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs, sharing relevant opportunities from Federal Agencies, and by joining our ecosystem of innovators for collaboration and shared knowledge.

Encourage – TIDE encourages companies to apply for federal research and development (R&D) funding to advance and commercialize their new technology and innovation. DEFTECH is a conduit to all the federal and state resources available to assist you in submitting your SBIR or STTR.

Assist – DEFTECH assists companies to match their technology and innovation to established areas of concern to the Department of Defense and other federal agencies. The TIDE program provides assistance to companies in formatting information to meet federal standards and translating solutions into government language.

Win – DEFTECH’s TIDE program helps you to secure R&D funding and government contracts by:

  • Promoting opportunities
  • Connecting you with the resources needed to submit winning proposals
  • Providing your technology and innovation ideas in front of government officials at events and through referrals within our ecosystem

DEFTECH TIDE is a four-phased program.  

Phases 1-3 are quarterly, and Phase 4 is an annual event.

Phase 1: Submit your Quad Charts through the TIDE RFI.  Quad Charts are for innovative technologies that address complex national security problems at a technology readiness level (TRL) of 4 or greater.

Phase 2: Increase your awareness of the NC Innovation Ecosystem. DEFTECH’s TIDE program aligns online and live events with SBIR/STTR phases and schedules for federal agencies to build predictability.

Phase 3: Present your technology that meets emerging federal requirements to a panel of government experts at our Shark Tank events. 

Phase 4:Demonstrate your technology in an operationally relevant environment with military operators.

DEFTECH TIDE Goals:

  • Connect on the problem and collaboratively iterate critical technology solutions to solve Warfighter needs.
  • Build a cyclical program in NC to showcase emerging technology solutions and baseline current technological approaches.
  • Create external partnerships and teaming opportunities across the national Defense Industrial Base (DIB).