The US Department of War (DOW) has today announced five finalists for the 2025 Maintenance Innovation Challenge (MIC), a competition that seeks innovative solutions with potential to improve DOW sustainment operations with the goal of improving materiel readiness.
The five finalists are:
- “Advanced Manufacturing Competitive Advantage Pathfinder,” submitted by the US Marine Corps’ Marine Depot Maintenance Command
- “AI-Powered Robotic Maintenance Repair and Overhaul,” submitted by GrayMatter Robotics
- “FIRstView Enhanced Real-Time Thermography for Field NDI,” submitted by Thermal Wave Imaging, Inc.
- “Grey Gecko Real-Time Inspection Tool (GRIT),” submitted by Gray Gecko, LLC
- “NESAR Distance Support Kit,” submitted by the US Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) 05T Directorate’s Navy Expeditionary Sustainment and Repair (NESAR) team
The MIC’s objective is to raise awareness of new and promising technologies and processes that show strong potential to positively impact DOW sustainment. The five finalists will present their solutions at the 2025 DOW Maintenance Symposium, scheduled for December 9-12, 2025, in Louisville, KY.
A judging panel comprising principals of the DOW Joint Technology Exchange Group (JTEG) will review the finalists’ presentations and select an Overall Award winner. Audience members at the MIC session, to be held December 9 at 3:30-5 pm EDT, will have the opportunity to select a People’s Choice Award winner.
The National Center for Manufacturing Sciences (NCMS), the competition facilitator, has committed to support the winners’ innovations by making available $50,000 of in-kind support for the Overall and the People’s Choice award winners to enable them to conduct further demonstrations for DOW representatives.
For more information on the Maintenance Innovation Challenge, visit: https://ncms.org/maintenance-innovation-challenge.
(Reference to NCMS does not constitute or imply endorsement or recommendation by the Department of Defense.)
