We are excited to announce the 16 finalists named in the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s (DARPA) Building an Adaptive and Competitive Workforce track through the 2023-24 Tools Competition!
In this track, more than 230 participants sought to help adult learners develop critical skills necessary for the current and future national security workforce, while advancing learning engineering as a whole.
Tools in this track aim to support adults in navigating new career paths and mastering the complex skills needed to access in-demand jobs—particularly in quickly growing STEM fields such as data science. Leveraging advanced technologies, like AI and large language models, these tools support diverse methodologies for meeting the unique needs of adult learners, including expanding opportunities for historically marginalized communities. From self-directed learning innovations and intelligent tutoring systems to simulation and gamified experiences, applicants are striving to facilitate adaptive learning for continuous career development and lifelong success.
Read on to learn about this year’s finalists. Winners for all tracks will be announced in later this summer.
Catalyst Award Level ($50,000) for early-stage ideas or products.
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AI-powered Mentorship | Dreami
Dreami leverages AI to generate personalized mentorship plans aimed at training and supporting individuals with barriers to employment. Learn more on their website. -
Bobolink: Revolutionizing the Workforce with AI-Powered Upskilling | Bobolink AI
Bobolink is an AI-powered intelligent tutoring system that understands data scientists' tasks, assesses their skill gaps, and delivers just-in-time micro-learning content integrated seamlessly with workflows. Learn more on their website. -
C.L.I.M.B.: Contextualized Learning Instrument for Measuring Baselines | Mixta Re, Inc.
C.L.I.M.B. is an advanced formative assessment tool that identifies competencies implicated in developing data science expertise and leverages those metrics for personalized learning. Learn more on their website. -
Codesafe | University of California, Irvine
Codesafe is an adaptive computer science education platform that leverages AI and large language models to reinvent existing curricula with an increased focus on code comprehension and software security. -
EduContext
EduContext makes data science upskilling effortless for adult learners, supporting users with goal-setting, progress tracking, and study habit recommendations. -
HVAC Hero
HVAC Hero aims to expand access to high-quality skilled trades training through personalized, simulation-based virtual learning experiences that prepare adult learners to enter the HVAC workforce. -
SocraTeach | Mike Holt Enterprises
SocraTeach is an AI tool for personalized mathematics learning aimed at helping trades professionals pass certification exams. Learn more on their website.
Growth Award Level ($150,000) for products with some users and scale.
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ASPIRE: Adaptive Scaffolding for Personalized Instruction and Responsive Education | Halicioglu Data Science Institute and the Department of Cognitive Science, UC San Diego
ASPIRE uses large language models, augmented by optional video analysis, to personalize adult education by assessing knowledge, deploying targeted interventions, and monitoring emotional and cognitive states to enhance engagement and learning efficiency. -
Course Climber | Course Climber, Inc.
Course Climber’s web-based platform provides interactive videobooks for workforce training, particularly focusing on the semiconductor industry. Learn more on their website. -
CrystalSTEM: STEM Microcredentials for Adult and Continuing Education | Eduworks Corporation
CrystalSTEM is an interactive AI tool designed to help continuing education departments offer critical upskilling opportunities by analyzing local STEM skill needs, predicting skill trends, and recommending non-credit programs and microcredentials to address data science and STEM skill gaps. Learn more on their website. -
IPAILearn: An Interactive and Personalized Learning Tool for Advancing Workforce Skills in Applied AI | Purdue University
IPAILearn is an interactive and personalized learning tool that supports adult learners in reskilling and upskilling in applied AI. -
QuantHub Challenge | Quanthub
The QuantHub Challenge is an AI-driven summative assessment platform that provides personalized, real-world data science challenges to enhance the skills and employability of adult learners. Learn more on their website. -
Secure Futures: Democratizing Career Pathways in Cybersecurity | FutureFit AI and FOUR18 Intelligence
Secure Futures marries FutureFit AI’s career navigation platform and FOUR18’s innovative cybersecurity assessment and training to match adult learners to best-fit cybersecurity pathways, by identifying the shortest path to training and certification, accessing wraparound services, and connecting to meaningful employment in cybersecurity. Learn more on their websites: FutureFit AI and Four18 Intelligence.
Transform Award Level ($300,000) for established platforms with 100,000 or more users.
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AMPT for Instructional Design | Carnegie Learning
AMPT for Instructional Design supports the rapid upskilling of math proficiency for adult learners by enabling instructional designers to engage with a chatbot interface to contextualize math content for practical, industry-oriented applications. Learn more on their website. -
Game-based Training Simulator for 5G Technologies | Haiku, Inc.
Haiku, Inc. plans to expand its accessible game-based platform to offer hands-on training in 5G wireless engineering skills to a diversity of learners and facilitate access to high-paying jobs in this sector. Learn more on their website. -
swirl-llm: Learn R, in R, alongside your personal AI tutor | Johns Hopkins University and Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center
swirl-llm breaks down programming barriers by teaching R directly in R to help adult learners upskill and participate in an increasingly data-driven world. Learn more on their website.
The Tools Competition has three phases and multiple award levels to help winners create or enhance their tools. In this current third and final phase, finalists will pitch their tool before a panel of judges who will nominate winners in each track.
This marks the second year DARPA has sponsored a track through the Tools Competition with six teams receiving funding during the 2022-2023 cycle. Each year, DARPA has dedicated $750,000 to award innovations aimed at reimagining and strengthening adult learning, and we look forward to adding more teams to their list of cutting-edge awardees
Join our mailing list to receive updates on the next Tools Competition cycle—launching September 2024!
Access the Official Rules and FAQs for additional details about this opportunity.
