A technology search competition sponsored by the Army to help advance its modernization priorities is seeking entries for a third round of the contest.

The Expeditionary Technology Search, known as xTechSearch, was launched in 2017. It invites small nondefense companies to demonstrate technologies and nontraditional innovators who can work with the Army to modernize the force.

A Purdue University startup from West Lafayette, Indiana, won first place in the inaugural competition of xTechSearch, earning $200,000 in prize money.

Announced in March at the Association of the U.S. Army Global Force Symposium and Exposition in Huntsville, Alabama, the money is to continue work on ALITEC, a cost-effective solid rocket propellant that increases by 40% the range of ballistic missiles against other propellant-based projectiles.

Also in March, 12 finalists for xTechSearch 2.0 were selected from up to 25 entrants featured at the AUSA symposium. They were Lumineye; MELD Manufacturing; United Aircraft Technologies; Cogitari Inc.; Great Lakes Sound and Vibration; AKHAN Semiconductor Inc.; Novaa Ltd.; Spark Thermionics Inc.; Olifant Medical; Vidrovr Inc.; Antimicrobial Materials; and Valley Tech Systems.

In the third round, xTechSearch 3.0, the Army is seeking novel, disruptive concepts and technologies to advance capabilities in areas such as long-range precision fires, the Next-Generation Combat Vehicle, Future Vertical Lift, the Army network, air and missile defense, increasing soldier lethality, medical technologies and military engineering technologies.

Companies can apply for xTechSearch 3.0 at this link: https://challenge.gov/a/buzz/challenge/1029/ideas/top

 The deadline for proposal submissions is June 12. More information on the program can be found here: https://challenge.gov/a/buzz/challenge