FY26 DEFENSE ESTABLISHED PROGRAM TO STIMULATE COMPETITIVE RESEARCH (DEPSCoR) - RESEARCH COLLABORATION (RC)
The FY26 DEPSCoR Research Collaboration grant offers up to $600,000 over three years to support S&E research by universities in eligible states, aiming to boost DoD-relevant research and infrastructure.
Funder: Air Force Office of Scientific Research
Due Dates: October 7, 2026 (RunGrants registration & Q&A cutoff) | October 12, 2026 (White Paper submission) | April 5, 2027 (Full Proposal by invitation)
Funding Amounts: Up to $600,000 total per award ($200,000/year for 3 years); ~24 awards; $14.4M total program funding.
Summary: Supports basic research collaborations in DoD-relevant science and engineering fields between eligible faculty in designated states/territories.
Key Information: Requires a PI/mentor team: PI must be a new DoD applicant; mentor must have recent DoD PI experience; only for institutions in DEPSCoR-eligible states/territories.
Description
This opportunity, funded by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR) under the Department of Defense (DoD), aims to strengthen basic research capacity at institutions of higher education (IHE) in designated states and territories through the Defense Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (DEPSCoR) – Research Collaboration (RC). The program supports collaborative research projects between a "new-to-DoD" faculty member (Applicant/PI) and an experienced DoD-funded researcher (Collaborator/co-PI) serving as mentor. The focus is on bold, fundamental research in science and engineering that aligns with DoD priorities and national security needs. Projects should advance knowledge in basic science and foster long-term competitiveness of eligible institutions for federal research funding.
