SBIR-STTR Award

TechNext provides a comprehensive granular account of the pace of technological change. More specifically, the algorithm estimates yearly performance improvement rates for nearly all definable technologies for the first time. It does this by creating a correspondence of all patents within the US patent system to a set of technology domains. A technology domain is a body of patented inventions achieving the same technological function using the same knowledge and scientific principles.

TechNext is a MIT spin-off developing a software solution building on 20 years of cutting-edge empirical & information research at MIT, using artificial intelligence, machine learning, natural language processing and predictive analytics. The program objective is to provide tools to address the lack of objective technological forecasting and horizon scanning capabilities despite a critical need for them in the DoD. Defense leadership, program managers, R&D teams at DoD and other government agencies, corporations and consulting firms will have access to fast, economical, objective and infinitely-iterable forecasts for technologies of interest. This will allow strategic and efficient deployment of human and financial capital for capability development and R&D, aiding strategic planning and program management. The proposed solution concept has been fine-tuned by closely working with key DoD stakeholders. TechNext’s research and tools provide an objective and quantitative estimation of potential for any existing & emerging technology. TechNext’s solution will forecast technology breakthroughs & disruptions, compare technology capabilities and prioritize technology portfolios to achieve superior technological standing in the future. During the proposed effort in Phase II, TechNext will build a Technology Crossover Scenario-modeling Tool to identify vulnerabilities in weapon systems that can be exploited by adversaries and a Capability spider chart to analyze national & global competitive/ adversarial landscape.