December 17, 2026 | 1–2 p.m. EST | Virtual 

A breakthrough idea is only the beginning. Can you explain what makes it different, why it matters, and how you’ll know it works?

Join Jen Thabet, Program Director, DARPA Small Business Programs Office, and Jess Resig, DARPAConnect Lead, for a session exploring the Heilmeier Catechism - the questions that help DARPA evaluate ambitious research ideas.

Developed by former DARPA Director George H. Heilmeier, this framework challenges researchers to get to the heart of their ideas and make a compelling case for pursuing them.

Discover how these deceptively simple questions can sharpen your thinking, expose gaps in your approach, and strengthen the way you communicate your research. We’ll explore how to use the framework to organize more competitive proposals across disciplines and prepare for meaningful conversations with DARPA program managers.

Whether you’re shaping an early concept or refining a proposal, you’ll gain a practical lens for answering a consequential question: Why should DARPA invest in your idea?

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