AFRL/AFOSR Center of Excellence (CoE) Program
The AFRL/AFOSR Center of Excellence Program funds university-led teams to conduct collaborative, high-priority research with AFRL and train future scientists in Air Force mission areas.
Funder: Air Force Office of Scientific Research
Due Dates (Anticipated): July 2026 (pre-proposal/white paper) | September 2026 (full proposal)
Funding Amounts: Typically up to $450,000 total ($150,000/year for 3 years), with potential 2-year extension; one award per selected Center.
Summary: Funds university-led Centers of Excellence to conduct collaborative, high-priority research with AFRL and train future U.S. scientists and engineers in Air Force mission areas.
Key Information: New topics are posted annually on Grants.gov; only one Center is established per topic each cycle.
Description
The AFRL/AFOSR Center of Excellence (CoE) Program is a collaborative initiative between the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR), another Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Technology Directorate, and a leading U.S. university or a consortium of universities. The program aims to establish Centers of Excellence that perform cutting-edge, high-priority research in areas critical to the Air Force mission. In addition to advancing research, CoEs foster close, ongoing professional interactions between AFRL and university researchers, and provide education and training opportunities for the next generation of U.S. scientists and engineers in vital technology sectors. CoEs are designed to extend AFRL’s research capabilities and serve as a pipeline for recruiting new talent to the Air Force.
