NextPAVE Challenge: A National Call for Pavement Innovation

As the asphalt industry continues to push toward longer-lasting, more sustainable pavements, a new initiative aims to fast-track transformative technologies from concept to construction. The NextPAVE Challenge—a joint effort by the National Center for Asphalt Technology (NCAT), the National Asphalt Pavement Association (NAPA), and MnROAD—is calling on innovators to step forward with solutions that are ready for real-world evaluation and adoption.

Launched as a national competition, the NextPAVE Challenge invites technology providers, material suppliers, and innovators to submit market-ready technologies that can improve pavement durability, performance, and cost-effectiveness over the life cycle.

A Two-Phase Evaluation for Real-World Readiness

The Challenge unfolds in two distinct phases. In Phase 1, participants will submit their technologies for laboratory testing and advanced pavement modeling using FlexPave and PerROAD tools. NCAT engineers, in collaboration with scientists, will also evaluate each technology’s scalability—including supply chain feasibility.

To ensure consistency, additive and mixture technologies will be benchmarked against a Balanced Mix Design control containing 20% RAP with minimum IDEAL-CT and IDEAL-RT thresholds. Structural innovations, such as base or soil stabilization methods, will be compared to a 5-inch asphalt layer over a 6-inch crushed aggregate base on the typical test track subgrade.

Submissions will be categorized by their position in the pavement system—On, In, or Below the asphalt—or as Other for approaches that defy classification. Whether it’s surface preservation, in-mix binders and additives, or base-layer stabilization, the NextPAVE Challenge is designed to give every promising solution a fair shot.

At the end of Phase 1, a pitch event will allow providers to present their innovations directly to an independent panel of experts. Each presentation includes a two-minute pitch, NCAT’s test and modeling results, and a live Q&A session.

Real-World Validation at NCAT and MnROAD

Top-performing technologies will move into Phase 2, which includes full-scale validation at the NCAT Test Track in 2027 and MnROAD in 2028. These two industry-leading facilities—representing southern and cold-climate conditions—will test selected solutions under accelerated traffic loading and weather extremes.

Importantly, Phase 2 is fully funded by a consortium of state DOTs and private-sector partners eager to implement the best innovations the industry has to offer.

What It Takes to Compete

Phase 1 participation requires a $25,000 fee, and technologies may be submitted under a non-disclosure agreement—though only public entries will be eligible for Phase 2 testing. The deadline to submit a Letter of Interest is September 30, 2025.

Technologies are expected to be both innovative and implementable—not just laboratory concepts, but field-ready solutions capable of transforming the way pavements are built and maintained.

Ready to Step Up?

The NextPAVE Challenge is more than a competition—it’s a chance to shape the future of the asphalt industry. With transparent evaluation, real-world testing, and national exposure, it offers a rare opportunity for innovators to demonstrate what’s next for paving.

For full details and to access the Letter of Interest template, visit the NextPAVE Challenge website.