FOUNDATIONS OF TRUSTED SYSTEMS
This grant seeks proposals for research and development to build more trustworthy and secure computer systems.
Funder: Air Force -- Research Lab
Due Dates: December 18, 2024 (FY25 white papers) | September 1, 2025 (FY26) | September 2, 2026 (FY27) | September 3, 2027 (FY28) | September 4, 2028 (FY29) | December 4, 2028 (final white paper deadline)
Funding Amounts: Total program funding up to $99.9M; typical awards $100K–$5M over up to 36 months; larger awards possible within ceiling.
Summary: Supports research and development of innovative technologies for trusted, secure, and resilient hardware and software systems for C4I and cyber applications.
Key Information: Initial submission is a white paper; full proposals by invitation only; foreign participation is generally restricted.
Description
This opportunity, issued by the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), seeks innovative research to establish trusted foundations for hardware and software that enable secure, resilient, and affordable Command, Control, Communications, Computers, and Intelligence (C4I) and cyber technologies. The program aims to advance the state of the art in trustworthy computing, software assurance, cyber-physical systems, AI-enabled trust, and digital engineering for defense applications.
Research areas of interest include, but are not limited to:
- Trusted, secure, and resilient computational systems (hardware and software)
- Software assurance and resilient software-intensive systems engineering
- Cyber-physical systems (CPS) security and verification
- AI in trusted systems, including assurance of learning-enabled components
- Digital engineering and model-based analysis for software security
The program is open through December 2028, with annual recommended white paper deadlines to align with fiscal year funding.
