Frequently Asked Questions

Battle Management, Command, Control, Communications, and Space Intelligence.

BMC3I TAP Lab Texas takes ideas from TRL 1 to 4. The BMC3I TAP Lab in Colorado Springs matures capabilities from TRL 4 to 7/8.

Mission-focused problems teams work on. They are organized around mission outcomes, not technologies. The first set will be announced at Webinar #2 on December 9, 2026.

GaiaVerse is the integration subcontractor for BMC3I TAP Lab Texas. Everything in the lab is built on, leverages, or is demonstrated through the GaiaVerse platform. Teams own their IP, can export their work at any time, and have no obligation to buy GaiaVerse services after the program. Participants use the platform at no cost during the program. After you graduate or exit, your account stays open for a transition period. To continue beyond that, contact GaiaVerse directly.

Universities, researchers, startups, and other companies. A team needs at least one academic partner and one industry partner. The industry partner is the team's Project Manager and is responsible for deliverables and reports; an academic partner can be the Principal Investigator. You don't have to be based in Texas.

No. We welcome universities from across the country and internationally, subject to the eligibility answer below. Teams must travel for the required in-person events.

Yes. Non-U.S. citizens are welcome, except people from countries or regions subject to comprehensive U.S. sanctions or embargoes, and people or organizations on U.S. government restricted-party lists (such as OFAC's Specially Designated Nationals List or the Commerce Department's Entity List). Participants are screened through The University of Texas at Austin's export control process. Colorado Springs sets its own eligibility for later stages.

No. Join the ecosystem (about 5 minutes) and we'll introduce you to potential partners before the next Gate 0 window. An ecosystem profile is required to apply. A second, longer form enables deeper partner matching, and we'll make introductions if you agree.

Yes. Students join through their team's academic partner and contribute to the team's Innovation Area work. The lab doesn't fund student time. Industry partners can offer internships or sponsor capstone projects at their own expense. Agree on how students contribute in your Team Charter. The team decides who attends the required in-person trips.

A basic understanding of orbits helps a team compete. Subject matter experts, especially in government, can help selected teams fill gaps.

Teams are selected at Gate 0 windows, one for each STTR solicitation release the lab targets (three a year). Join the ecosystem anytime so we can help you form a team before the next window.

No. STTRs are associated with the program. Every award is competed, and we'll help teams build the strongest case. Where an STTR applies, a team should be ready to submit its Phase I proposal after the first month. Not winning an award doesn't affect your place in the program. Companies of any size can take part.

Don't wait for selection. Before you apply:

• Complete your SAM.gov registration.
• Get your Unique Entity ID (UEI).
• Register in DSIP, the Defense SBIR/STTR Innovation Portal.

The lab covers travel for the Stage 1 Concept Development Sprint for every selected team, and for the Gate 2 Progress Demonstration and the Gate 3 Final Demonstration for the travel-supported teams in each cohort. Teams beyond the travel-supported number attend Gates 2 and 3 on their own funds. Each supported trip comes with a flat sum, not reimbursement of actual costs. The sum is based on four travelers for four nights and five days, using FY27 federal (GSA) lodging and per diem rates for Austin, average airfare or mileage costs, and local transportation. A team's actual costs may be higher or lower. Any other travel is at the team's own expense. The lab doesn't fund participants' time or work; teams take part on their own funds. Selection doesn't guarantee an STTR or any other award.

Yes, for three required trips of about four days each: the Stage 1 Concept Development Sprint, the Gate 2 Progress Demonstration, and the Gate 3 Final Demonstration. Each team sends four travelers, and every organization on the team must be represented. The team decides who goes; students don't have to be the ones attending. A team that can't meet this for the sprint must replace the partner who can't, or it is dropped from the program. Gates 2 and 3 have no remote option. More in-person time is welcome at the team's own expense. See "Does selection come with funding?" for what the lab covers.

Teams attend the Stage 1 sprint and the Gate 2 and Gate 3 demonstrations in person, complete GaiaVerse platform onboarding, take part in a monthly Cohort Clinic, submit a quarterly progress report, and keep their evidence and security records current. Teams are downselected at Gate 1, before any STTR award. The industry partner manages the team and is responsible for deliverables and reports.

• Collaboration space in the Space Object Situation Room at UT Austin.
• The GaiaVerse platform and data, at no cost during the program.
• Access to subject matter experts.
• Help competing for STTR awards.
• Travel support (see "Does selection come with funding?").

Teams build software applications that address the needs and requirements of their Innovation Area, maturing them from concept to a laboratory-validated demonstration (TRL 4). The work is built on, leverages, or is demonstrated through the GaiaVerse platform.

About 12 to 18 months. That is a target, not a deadline. Progress is based on evidence.

The Texas Advanced Computing Center (TACC) provides the computing infrastructure. GaiaVerse provides the integration platform, data, and development environment.

Each team gets its own separate tenant, and your data isn't shared with other teams. The platform includes curated public space data, data pipelines, databases, authentication, AI tools, and application deployment through Gaia Ship.

Yes. You receive an API key and a context file so local AI coding tools can work with platform services. Deploy through Gaia Ship from a Git repository or zip file; Docker and Kubernetes setups are supported. Deploying through Gaia Ship builds your evidence history, software bills of materials (SBOMs), and certificates for your Transition Package.

Curated public space data is available through GaiaVerse, along with unclassified government data where it can be shared. The lab is also building benchmark and synthetic test datasets with Colorado Springs. Real sensor data for new sensing types isn't guaranteed. If it fits your Innovation Area, modeling and simulation can substitute.

No. All BMC3I TAP Lab Texas work is unclassified, and the lab doesn't handle Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI).

Teams own their IP, subject to their Team Charter and any agreements with their institutions. Teams that win an STTR award follow that award's terms and conditions, including its data rights. We encourage publishing.

Teams that graduate leave with a Transition Package. Gate 4 comes with a recommendation from Texas, and the receiving organization decides. Successfully completing BMC3I TAP Lab Texas greatly increases your chances of being picked up for continuous development in the BMC3I TAP Lab in Colorado Springs. There are no guarantees: Colorado gives preference to teams with demonstrated capabilities and mission relevance, delivered in a seamless Transition Package. Graduates can pitch to join a Colorado cohort team. Other paths include a direct sponsor or industry transition partner, other funding, and commercialization.

Webinar #2 is Wednesday, December 9, 2026 (time to be announced). It will introduce the first Innovation Areas. Applications open and partner matching begins then. The Webinar #1 recording will be posted on the website.