Funder: Office of Naval Research
Due Dates: May 2, 2025 (White Papers, strongly recommended) | September 5, 2025 (Full Proposals)
Funding Amounts: Up to $1.5M/year for 5 years per award; typical total per award is $7.5M; overall program budget ~$170M (pending appropriations).
Summary: Supports multidisciplinary, high-risk basic research by U.S. universities to achieve scientific breakthroughs relevant to national security and future military technologies.
Key Information: Eligibility limited to U.S. degree-granting universities; white papers are optional but strongly encouraged; see detailed topic list and contact topic chiefs before submitting.
Description
The Department of Defense Multidisciplinary Research Program of the University Research Initiative (MURI) is a flagship basic research program supporting teams of investigators from U.S. universities to pursue high-risk, multidisciplinary research with the potential for significant scientific breakthroughs. The program is managed by the Office of Naval Research (ONR), Army Research Office (ARO), and Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR), and is designed to address fundamental science and engineering challenges relevant to the DoD’s mission and future technological needs.
MURI projects are closely managed by Service Program Officers, who provide active research guidance. The program has a strong track record of enabling advances with broad scientific, economic, and military impact. Each year, specific research topics are announced, and proposals are solicited from multidisciplinary teams.
Due Dates
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White Papers (Optional but Strongly Recommended):
May 2, 2025, 5:00 PM Eastern Time
(White papers allow for early feedback and can strengthen full proposals.)
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Full Proposals:
September 5, 2025, 5:00 PM Eastern Time
(Applications must be validated by Grants.gov by the deadline; submission at least 2 business days early is strongly recommended.)
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Questions Deadlines:
- Technical/Eligibility: April 18, 2025
- Proposal Submission: August 22, 2025
Funding Amount
- Typical Award: Up to $1.5 million per year for up to 5 years (total up to $7.5 million per award).
- Total Program Funding: Estimated at ~$170 million over five years, subject to appropriations.
- Number of Awards: Varies by topic and available funds; more than one award per topic is possible.
- Budget Guidance:
- ONR topics: $7.5M over 5 years
- ARO topics: $7.5M over 5 years
- AFOSR topics: $7.5M over 5 years
(See solicitation for recommended annual breakdowns.)
Eligibility
- Eligible Applicants:
- U.S. institutions of higher education (universities) with degree-granting programs in science and/or engineering, including DoD institutions of higher education.
- University Affiliated Research Centers (UARCs) that are part of a U.S. university and not designated as a Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC).
- Ineligible for Direct Funding:
- Industry, DoD laboratories, FFRDCs, and foreign entities (may collaborate but cannot receive MURI funds directly or via subaward).
- No limit on the number of applications per institution.
- Principal Investigator (PI): Must be from the primary (lead) institution.
Application Process
1. Review Topics and Contact Topic Chiefs
- Review the detailed list of research topics in the official solicitation.
- Contact the designated Research Topic Chief(s) for your topic to discuss scope, team composition, and budget before submitting.
2. White Paper Submission (Optional but Strongly Recommended)
- ONR Topics: Submit via FedConnect (registration and SAM required).
- ARO Topics: Submit via email or postal mail to the Research Topic Chief.
- AFOSR Topics: Submit via AFOSR White Paper Portal.
- Include a cover sheet, research summary, technical approach, team/management plan, estimated costs, and CVs of key personnel.
- White papers are limited to 4 pages (excluding cover, references, CVs).
3. Full Proposal Submission
- All full proposals must be submitted via Grants.gov.
- Complete all required forms (SF-424 R&R, budget, biosketches, current/pending support, etc.).
- Technical proposal limited to 25 pages (see solicitation for required sections).
- Proposals must address the specific topic and follow all formatting and content requirements.
- Proposals must be validated by Grants.gov by the deadline (can take up to 48 hours).
4. Review and Selection
- Proposals are evaluated on scientific/technical merit, potential for fundamental advances, DoD relevance, team qualifications, facilities, and cost reasonableness.
- Risk-based security review is conducted for all key personnel.
- Awards are subject to availability of funds and may be adjusted based on evaluation outcomes.
Additional Information
- Research Topics:
The FY26 MURI includes 22 topics spanning physical sciences, engineering, life sciences, AI, quantum science, materials, oceanography, and more. See the full topic list and descriptions or in the official PDF.
- White Papers:
Strongly encouraged to receive early feedback and increase competitiveness.
- Security and Compliance:
All proposals undergo a risk-based security review for foreign influence and compliance with DoD policies.
- Cost Sharing:
Not required and not a review factor, but voluntary cost sharing may be considered.
- Reporting:
Standard DoD and agency-specific reporting requirements apply for awarded projects.
External Links
Contact Information
For technical questions on specific topics, contact the Research Topic Chief listed in the solicitation.