1,000+ Opportunities
Find the right grant
Search federal, foundation, and corporate grants with AI — or browse by agency, topic, and state.
AIE uses rolling AIE Opportunity calls under the PA-25-03 announcement; no single deadline on this listing page.
AI Exploration (AIE) Program is sponsored by DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency). The DARPA AI Exploration (AIE) program supports high-risk, high-payoff projects where researchers work to establish the feasibility of new AI concepts within 18 months of award.
These opportunities use streamlined contracting procedures for rapid project kick-off and are aimed at shaping a future for AI technology where machines may serve as trusted and collaborative partners in solving problems of importance to national security.
Get alerted about grants like this
Get emailed when new opportunities from “DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency)” or related funders appear. Free, weekly, unsubscribe anytime.
Or search similar grants →Extracted from the official opportunity page/RFP to help you evaluate fit faster.
DARPA-PA-25-03: Program Announcement for Artificial Intelligence Exploration (AIE) – Office of the Vice President for Research Research Administration Units Communications & Outreach From the Desk of the AVPR Internal Funding for Researchers Faculty Small Grant Program (FSGP) Faculty Fellow Awards (FFA) – Reporting Portal Distinguished Research Awards (DRA) Research Instrumentation Fund (RIF) University of Utah Research Foundation (UURF) Interdisciplinary Research Initiative 1U4U Collaborative Seed Grant Program No-Cost Extension Request Instructions Your Questions Our Research Facilities and Administrative Distribution and Usage Powered by the University of Utah DARPA-PA-25-03: Program Announcement for Artificial Intelligence Exploration (AIE) The mission of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is to make strategic, early investments in science and technology that will have long-term positive impact on our Nation’s security.
In support of this mission, DARPA has pioneered groundbreaking research and development (R&D) in Artificial Intelligence (AI) for more than five decades.
Today, DARPA continues to lead innovation in AI research through a large, diverse portfolio of fundamental and applied R&D AI programs aimed at shaping a future for AI technology where machines may serve as trusted and collaborative partners in solving problems of importance to national security.
The AI Exploration (AIE) program is one key element of DARPA’s broader AI investment strategy that will help ensure the U.S. maintains a technological advantage in this critical area. Click HERE for full details.
According to the current listing, eligibility includes: Researchers from universities, research organizations, and small businesses. Confirm the full requirements in the official notice before applying.
AI Exploration (AIE) Program accepts applications on a rolling basis — there is no single fixed deadline. Check the official notice for any cycle-specific review dates.
AI Exploration (AIE) Program is funded by DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency). Verify program details on the funder's official page before applying.
Yes — this listing is flagged as national in scope, so applicants across the U.S. may apply, subject to the sponsor's other eligibility criteria.
Applications go through the funder's official portal — the Apply Now link on this page goes there directly.
Past winners and funding trends for this program
Fusion of Abstract Learning and Context-Optimized Neural-methods (FALCON) is sponsored by DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency). This DARPA SBIR topic aims to combine advanced machine learning (ML) methods that are computationally efficient in structured data with large language models (LLM) that are general and can extract context from data. The goal is to derive powerful and efficient technology for interactive statistical analysis of large-scale data seen in enterprise or battlefield environments. While not explicitly mentioning computer vision or ISR tracking, the AI/ML focus for battlefield applications makes it relevant.
Art of Novel Signals: Predicting and Forecasting with High Confidence is sponsored by DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency). This DARPA SBIR topic seeks to develop and demonstrate a predictive/forecasting model that leverages Temporal Knowledge Graph Forecasting using In-Context Learning from novel, multilingual, and multimodal data. This could be relevant for ISR tracking through advanced data analysis and prediction.
DoD Multidisciplinary Research Program of the University Research Initiative (MURI) is sponsored by Department of Defense (DoD) - Office of Naval Research (ONR). The Multidisciplinary Research Program of the University Research Initiative (MURI), administered by the Department of Defense Office of Naval Research, supports basic research in science and engineering at U. S.
SBIR SF254-D1206: Knowledge-Guided Test and Evaluation Frameworks for proliferated Low Earth Orbit Constellations is sponsored by U.S. Air Force. DOD SBIR topic SF254-D1206: Knowledge-Guided Test and Evaluation Frameworks for proliferated Low Earth Orbit Constellations. Component: U.S. Air Force. Command: SDA. Solicitation: DoD SBIR 2025.4. Phase(s): D2PII, II, SPII. Status: Pre-Release. Open date: 3/4/2026.
DPA26BZ05-DV019 asks small businesses to reduce ISR video transmission from small drones by 90 to 99 percent while preserving what an operator actually needs, on a Jetson-class board at a 2-watt final power budget. It is Direct-to-Phase-II, up to $1.5 million base plus a $500,000 option, and its exclusion list — no weapon release, no lethal engagement, no named-person identification — is the most strategically revealing paragraph in DARPA's FY26 Release 5.
Read articleDPA26BZ05-DV018 is the largest award in DARPA's FY26 SBIR Release 5 — up to $3 million over 18 months, Direct-to-Phase-II only. It funds four subsystem tracks for an underwater 3D concrete printer that uses seafloor sediment and seawater with under 20 percent binder. Here is what the Trenton program already proved, why the track structure is really a supplier-qualification exercise, and who can clear the prior-feasibility bar in the four weeks that remain.
Read articleTwo weeks after the DARPA Lift Challenge ended with the winner at 3.84:1 — short of the 4:1 target — DARPA posted a Direct-to-Phase-II SBIR that requires empirical proof of a 4:1 payload-to-weight ratio to bid. DPA26BZ05-DV022 offers up to $1.5 million over 24 months across two tracks that map exactly onto the Challenge's two design prizes. Here is who can actually clear the entry bar, what the month-9, month-18, and month-24 gates demand, and why the certification language is the real story.
Read article