The Mid-Atlantic Hub Network is pleased to announce several developments with the Hub's membership application portal, the spring solicitation cycle, and upcoming webinars providing an overview of the Mid-Atlantic Hub Network.

Spring Partnership Funding Cycle - Increased Funding! Extended application window!
We have also increased the available funding for the Prototyping Research Innovations track to the following amounts:

• Phase 1: was   $50,000 is now $100,000
• Phase 2: was $100,000 is now $200,000
• Phase 3: was $100,000 is now $200,000

We’ve extended the spring solicitation cycle closing date to 5:00 pm April 7th.

Upcoming Information Sessions - You’re Invited!
Thank you to the Hub members who have opened their planned information sessions to the entire network.  We invite you to join any of the information sessions below to learn more about the Hub and the Spring Partnership Funding Cycle.

Please click the following link to register for any of the options listed here:
https://midatlantichub.afresearchlab.com/information-sessions.html

• 1:00 EST Monday, March 20 - hosted by the AFOSR
• 2:00 EST Wednesday, March 22 - hosted by AFRL RW Eglin AFB
• 3:00 EST Wednesday, March 22 - hosted by AFRL Dayton
• 1:00 EST Thursday, March 23 - hosted by Brookhaven National Laboratory
• 4:00 EST/2:00 MST Thursday March 23 - hosted by AFRL Kirtland AFB
• 2:00 EST Friday, March 24 - hosted by Cornell University

*Please note, if you’re part of the hosting institution you do not need to register for the information session via the Mid-Atlantic Hub Network website - you will receive details to join directly from your AFRL Mid-Atlantic Hub lead 

Membership Application Portal is LIVE!
The Mid-Atlantic Hub Network membership application portal is officially open!
Please visit the link below and click "Apply for Membership."
https://midatlantichub.afresearchlab.com/hub-network-membership.html 


Thank you AFRL for the great article on the Mid-Atlantic Hub Network!
Finally, we’re pleased to see AFRL published an article about the Mid-Atlantic Hub Network this morning! Click the link below to read more.
https://www.afrl.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/3333011/afrl-regional-hub-network-progresses-as-it-enters-2nd-year/

The Mid-Atlantic Hub Network is pleased to announce the opening of the AFRL Mid-Atlantic Hub Network Spring Partnership Funding Cycle. Please check the link below for more information and access to the application form.

https://midatlantichub.afresearchlab.com/spring-2023-solicitation.html

Some updates to this cycle:

• A new technology thrust, Edge Computing, has been added
• Applications may be submitted any time prior to 5:00 PM on March 31, 2023
• Membership requirements have been further defined (see below)

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Please plan to join us for the Hub’s Spring Meeting: On Friday, April 28th we look forward to welcoming AFRL Chief Technology Officer, Dr. Timothy Bunning, to Cornell for an official Hub Network kickoff, Fall ’22 project presentations, and an active networking session with Hub Network members and the AFRL community.
 
Hub Network Membership: We’re pleased to introduce the Mid-Atlantic Hub Network membership program based on your feedback at the Fall Meeting.  

Multiple membership options accommodate corporations (modest fee based on sales), startups (modest fee based on amount raised), investment groups (modest fee), academia, not-for-profits and government organizations.

There is no fee for academia, not-for-profits, and government organizations, however, they agree to serve as Hub Network communication nodes throughout the region.

The Network’s region extends from Maine to Virginia, with the western boundary extending along New York, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Virginia. Interested parties from outside of the Network region, may join, however, they are not eligible to lead proposals. Membership Benefits Include:

• Propose (only in-region members can lead proposals) and/or participate in Hub partnership project calls
• Concierge support for networking with AFRL and Hub Network
• Access to Hub-funded translation projects, AFRL S&T staff
• 3 entries to Hub-wide meetings
• No Intellectual Property terms or conditions associated with membership

Please note, the full application for membership not yet live – it will be available very soon on the website.

https://midatlantichub.afresearchlab.com/hub-network-membership.html

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ITHACA, NY – The Air Force Research Laboratory’s (AFRL) newest regional hub network, led by Cornell University for the Mid-Atlantic, held its inaugural meeting Oct. 27-28, 2022, in Ithaca, New York. The meeting featured presentations on technical needs in forecasting material and component performance in extreme environments, and utilization of complex, heterogenous, and dynamic networks, along with breakout sessions to discuss the Hub Network’s structure and community. An independent expert panel also reviewed proposal presentations and awarded $450,000 to four projects with government-academic-industrial teams that are poised to accelerate the translation of high-risk innovations to the market that are crucial for U.S. defense and new commercial applications.

Winning proposals include: “Machine learning-driven optimal design of self-healing vitrimer composites for multifunctional coatings,” “Photopolymerization-based ceramic additive manufacturing for extreme environments,” “Light lace for quantifying performance in extreme environments” and “Microfluidic-accelerated directed evolution for sustainable rare earth separation.”

Throughout the meeting, attendees networked with potential collaborators and discussed upcoming priorities with key personnel from AFRL and the U.S. Space Force, namely Dr. Richard Vaia, chief scientist of AFRL’s Materials and Manufacturing Directorate; James “Sass” Bieryla, deputy director of AFWERX; and Nick Kamin, manager of the U.S. Space Force’s Science, Technology and Research Directorate.

Technical presentations and ample time for social interactions aligned squarely with this year’s theme of “building community.” Similarly, almost all attendees across industry, government and academia agreed on the need to emphasize the Hub as a facilitator of connections that may not otherwise exist in the Hub Network’s absence.

“I’m pleased our inaugural meeting was productive for all,” said Patrick Govang, co-director of the Mid-Atlantic Hub Network. “The feedback we received over the meeting’s two days provided much-needed guidance for the Hub Network’s work and how we’ll continue to provide value to current and future members. Most notably is the need for us to grow the Hub Network into a place where new and fruitful collaborations form through a streamlined gateway to the Air Force and Space Force. We look forward to facilitating these relationships and broadening the region’s members.”

Vaia, the Chief Scientist of AFRL’s Materials and Manufacturing Directorate, also lauded the meeting and the Hub Network as a place for connections and collaborations.

“The Mid-Atlantic Hub Network’s first meeting was an outstanding success that set a positive tone for the year ahead,” Vaia said. “Most importantly, it allowed everyone to provide their impressions of the Hub and how to best frame it as a network rather than a standalone institution.  With this in mind, the Hub Network will provide value to all members by facilitating key connections across domains, and we’ve now gained the insight needed to make sure that happens.”

The Mid-Atlantic Hub Network plans to issue three project solicitations in spring, summer and fall focused on key areas of importance to AFRL, the United States Air Force, and the United States Space Force. Those interested in becoming a member of the Mid-Atlantic Hub Network or joining the Hub’s notification list should visit https://midatlantichub.afresearchlab.com/.

The full press release is also linked here.

​The Mid-Atlantic Hub is pleased to announce the launch of the Mid-Atlantic Hub website, which be found at https://midatlantichub.afresearchlab.com/

There, you'll find links to the proposal submission portal, Google workspace, and information about the annual meeting on Oct. 27-28 (including the ability to register for founding Hub members, AFRL members and all others). We strongly encourage everyone to register for the annual meeting, which can be completed by visiting https://midatlantichub.afresearchlab.com/annual-meeting.html

Please note the SUBMISSION DEADLINE for the current solicitation has been EXTENDED until Thursday, October 6 at 5:00 p.m. EST.