High Tech West (HTW) is the University of Utah’s premier annual R&D pitch competition (Feb 25–26, 2026), focusing on accelerating technologies for national defense, aerospace, and medicine in complex, austere environments.

DARC Lab and collaborators (X. He, M. Minor, Q. Tian, and experts from Idaho National Lab, Sandia, Cushybots Corporation, and L3Harris) win $225K to develop proof-of-concept Rapid Aerial Platform for Threat Object Removal (RAPTOR) counter UAS drones.

More details found here: High Tech West 2026 Highlights the University of Utah’s Growing Role in Defense and Dual-Use Innovation