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 12, 2026 (White paper) | April 5, 2027 (Invited full proposal)
Funding Amounts: $200,000–$600,000 per award; up to $200,000 annually for three years
Summary: Supports basic science and engineering collaborations pairing researchers new to DoD prime funding with experienced DoD-funded mentors in eligible jurisdictions.
Key Information: Each application requires exactly one Applicant/PI and one eligible Collaborator/co-PI.
Description
DEPSCoR–Research Collaboration funds basic science and engineering research relevant to the Department of Defense mission and national security. Sponsored and managed by the Basic Research Office within OUSD (R&E), the program is awarded by AFOSR and administered through the Office of Naval Research. It seeks bold, ambitious research that advances fundamental knowledge and may challenge accepted theories and perspectives.
The program builds research capacity at institutions of higher education in eligible states and territories. Its mentor–mentee structure introduces investigators without prior DoD prime research awards to defense research challenges, procedures, and program officers. Longer-term goals include improving institutional competitiveness in federal peer review and increasing sustained federal research support.
