Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Department of Defense Multidisciplinary Research Program of the University Research Initiative (MURI)

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Description

The Department of Defense Multidisciplinary University Research Initiative (MURI) program funds teams of investigators at U.S. universities to pursue high-risk, basic research that aims to achieve significant scientific breakthroughs. The program is designed to foster multidisciplinary collaboration, with the expectation that insights from multiple fields will accelerate progress on complex scientific challenges relevant to the DoD and broader scientific community.

MURI has a 40-year track record of producing advances with far-reaching consequences for science, economic growth, and revolutionary new military technologies. Projects are closely managed by Service Program Officers, who provide active research guidance. Each year, the program releases a set of specific research topics spanning physical sciences, engineering, life sciences, and more.

For FY2026, 22 research topics are available, covering areas such as generative AI evaluation, brain-inspired robotics, advanced materials, quantum information, environmental sensing, and more. See the official topic descriptions for full details.

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Due Dates

• White Papers (Optional but strongly recommended):
  May 2, 2025, 5:00 PM Eastern Time

• Full Proposals:
  September 5, 2025, 5:00 PM Eastern Time

• Questions regarding eligibility/technical requirements:
  April 18, 2025

• Questions for Grants Officer regarding proposal submission:
  August 22, 2025

Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit white papers to receive feedback before preparing a full proposal.

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Funding Amount

• Typical Award: Up to $1.5 million per year for up to 5 years (maximum $7.5 million total 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 may be made per topic, or none.
• Award Instrument: Grant (cooperative agreements possible for ARO topics)
• Cost Sharing: Not required or expected

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Eligibility

• Eligible Lead 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 as Lead or Direct Recipients:
  • Industry, DoD laboratories, FFRDCs, and foreign entities (may participate as collaborators but cannot receive MURI funds directly or via subaward).
• Collaborations:
  • Ineligible organizations may collaborate but must be funded separately (not via MURI).
• No limit on the number of applications per institution.
• Principal Investigator (PI): Must be from the lead institution.

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Application Process

1. White Paper Submission (Optional but strongly recommended)

• Purpose: Receive feedback from Topic Chiefs to gauge interest and improve proposal competitiveness.
• Deadline: May 2, 2025, 5:00 PM ET
• Submission:
  • ONR topics: Submit via FedConnect (registration and SAM.gov required).
  • AFOSR topics: Submit via AFOSR White Paper Portal.
  • ARO topics: Submit via email to the Research Topic Chief or as specified in the topic description.
• Format: 4 pages max (excluding cover, references, CVs); see NOFO for required content.

2. Full Proposal Submission

• Deadline: September 5, 2025, 5:00 PM ET
• Submission: All proposals must be submitted via Grants.gov.
• Preparation:
  • Register in SAM.gov and Grants.gov well in advance.
  • Complete all required forms (SF-424 R&R, budget, biosketches, current/pending support, etc.).
  • Technical proposal limited to 25 pages (see NOFO for required sections).
  • Budget justification and other attachments as specified.
• Validation: Grants.gov validation can take up to 48 hours; submit at least 2 business days before the deadline.

3. Review and Selection

• Proposals are evaluated on scientific/technical merit, potential for fundamental advances, DoD relevance, team qualifications, facilities, and cost reasonableness.
• Awards are subject to risk-based security review for foreign influence and compliance with DoD policies.

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Additional Information

• Research Topics:
  The FY26 MURI includes 22 topics across ONR, ARO, and AFOSR. Topics range from advanced materials, quantum science, AI/ML, environmental sensing, and more. See full topic list and descriptions.
• White Papers:
  Strongly recommended to maximize competitiveness; feedback may encourage or discourage full proposal submission.
• Compliance:
  • All proposals must comply with DoD and federal regulations, including export control, research protections (human/animal subjects), and reporting requirements.
  • Disclosure of all current and pending support is required for all key personnel.
• No cost sharing required.
• Awards are contingent on availability of funds and appropriations.

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External Links

• Official Grants.gov Opportunity Page (N001425SF002)
• ONR Funding Announcements & Topic Descriptions
• FedConnect (ONR White Paper Submission)
• AFOSR White Paper Submission Portal
• SAM.gov Registration
• Grants.gov Applicant Resources
• DoD Terms and Conditions

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Contact Information

For technical questions on specific topics, contact the Research Topic Chief listed in the topic description.

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