DARPA AI Grants

AI Forge Program: University Research Capabilities for Artificial Intelligence (AI) Strategic Thrusts Request for Information (RFI) is sponsored by Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). DARPA, in collaboration with the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), is seeking input from U.S. universities on their AI research capabilities. This RFI is part of the AI Forge initiative, which aims to accelerate breakthroughs in AI for national security. The program focuses on high-impact, fundamental AI research to address critical AI challenges, including reliability, predictability, explainability, and security in high-stakes settings.

AI Forge: Accelerating AI breakthroughs for national security is sponsored by Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). A joint DARPA and NSF research and development program to catalyze breakthroughs in AI for national security, working with the Center for AI Standards and Innovation (CAISI) at NIST. It aims to accelerate progress towards AI that is significantly more reliable, predictable, understandable, and secure in high-stakes settings. The program will establish a forum of universities, industry, and U.S. government representatives to fund and manage fast-paced, university-led research projects.

Artificial Intelligence Exploration (AIE) Program is sponsored by Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). The AIE Program is a series of funding opportunities exploring new directions for AI research to develop trustworthy systems for national security missions. It's a key element of DARPA's broader AI investment strategy to maintain a technological advantage.

AI Forge Program: University Research Capabilities for Artificial Intelligence (AI) Strategic Thrusts is sponsored by Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). The AI Forge Program seeks to identify and leverage the AI capabilities and research interests of U. S. universities to conduct high-impact, fast-paced, university-led, fundamental AI research aimed at solving "Critical AI Challenges for National Security".

Artificial Intelligence Research and Development (R&D) Program (Office-Wide BAA, Information Processing Techniques Office - IPTO) is sponsored by Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). This Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) from DARPA's Information Processing Techniques Office (IPTO) invites ideas for breakthrough technologies in information science, computing, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and software assurance that fall outside the scope of current …

DARPA's AI Forward program advances trustworthy artificial intelligence systems for national security through AI Exploration (AIE) opportunities using streamlined contracting procedures. The program emerged from two 2023 workshops with approximately 200 participants from commercial, academic, and government sectors. AI Forward funds 18-month projects to establish feasibility of new AI concepts, with awards issued within 3 months of opportunity announcement. The program addresses three essential research thrusts: foundational theory for understanding AI system limits and guardrails, AI engineering for predictable real-world deployment, and human-AI teaming for trustworthy collaboration. Associated active programs include EMHAT, FACT, and FoundSci. DARPA has invested over $2 billion through its AI Next campaign since 2018, with approximately 70% of current DARPA programs utilizing AI or machine learning. Proposals are submitted through the DARPA R&D Opportunities portal.

AI Exploration opportunities (AIEs) (AI Forward Initiative) is sponsored by Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). DARPA's AI Forward initiative focuses on trustworthy AI systems for national security missions and explores new directions for AI research. AIEs are fast-moving funding opportunities for researchers to establish the feasibility of new AI concepts within 18 months of award.

AI Forward Initiative (via AI Exploration opportunities - AIEs) is sponsored by Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). AI Forward is DARPA's initiative to explore new directions for artificial intelligence research that will result in trustworthy systems for national security missions. It focuses on building AI systems that reliably operate in adversarial, ambiguous, and high-stakes environments.

AI Exploration (AIE) programs is sponsored by Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). AI Exploration (AIE) programs are funding opportunities that use streamlined contracting procedures to establish the feasibility of new AI concepts. This initiative explores new directions for AI research that will result in trustworthy systems for national security missions, including improving robustness, reliability, security, and resiliency of AI systems.

DARPA's Artificial Intelligence Exploration (AIE) Program Announcement (DARPA-PA-25-03) constitutes a series of unique funding opportunities that use streamlined contracting procedures and funding mechanisms to achieve a start date within three months of an opportunity announcement, with researchers working to establish the feasibility of new AI concepts within 18 months of award. AIE is a key element of DARPA's broader AI investment strategy designed to maintain U.S. technological advantage in artificial intelligence research, supporting fundamental and applied R&D projects aimed at developing AI systems that function as trusted and collaborative partners in solving problems of importance to national security. Periodic AIE Opportunities are solicited through Solicitation Notices under Contract Opportunities on SAM.gov, with relatively short response windows of 30 to 45 days from announcement to abstract deadline. AIE is the most agile entry point for AI researchers with breakthrough ideas across DARPA's strategic priorities including agentic AI, AI safety and trust, multi-agent coordination, AI for cybersecurity, and AI for scientific discovery.

DARPA Artificial Intelligence Exploration (AIE) Program Announcement (DARPA-PA-25-03) is sponsored by DARPA. Constitutes a series of unique funding opportunities using streamlined contracting procedures to establish the feasibility of new AI concepts within 18 months of award, supporting fundamental and applied R&D projects aimed at developing AI systems that function as trusted and co…

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.

AI Next Campaign / Artificial Intelligence Exploration (AIE) Program is sponsored by Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). The 'AI Next' campaign is a multi-year investment by DARPA in new and existing programs to advance AI for national security purposes. A key component is the Artificial Intelligence Exploration (AIE) program, which funds high-risk, high-payoff projects to establish the feasibility of new AI concepts within 18 months. This includes research into explainable AI, common sense reasoning, robust and reliable AI systems, and human-machine teaming.

DARPA AI Cyber Challenge (Small Business Track, future rounds) is sponsored by Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). DARPA AI Cyber Challenge (Small Business Track, future rounds) is a grant from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency that funds small business teams developing AI-powered cybersecurity solutions capable of autonomously defending critical software systems.

AI Exploration (AIE) Program Announcement (DARPA-PA-25-03) is sponsored by Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). This opportunity supports mission-aligned projects and measurable outcomes in artificial intelligence research, contributing to national security. It is a key element of DARPA's broader AI investment strategy to maintain a technological advantage in this critical area.

AI Exploration Opportunities (AIEs) under AI Forward is sponsored by Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). AI Forward is DARPA's initiative to explore new directions for artificial intelligence (AI) research that will result in trustworthy systems for national security missions. AIEs are unique funding opportunities that use streamlined contracting procedures to establish the feasibility of new AI concepts. This could include research into AI for security threat detection.

DARPA's AI Forward initiative explores new directions for artificial intelligence research that will result in trustworthy systems for national security missions. The program emphasizes three core research areas: foundational theory, AI engineering, and human-AI teaming. AI Forward operates as an umbrella initiative funding multiple specific programs including EMHAT (Embodied Human-AI Teams), FACT (Conversational Accountability), FoundSci (Foundation Models for Scientific Discovery), and the AI Next Campaign. Funding flows through AI Exploration (AIE) opportunities with streamlined contracting procedures designed to rapidly advance promising AI concepts. Awardees must begin work within three months of opportunity announcement and operate on 18-month feasibility timelines, enabling rapid exploration of high-risk, high-reward AI research directions for defense applications.

AI Exploration (AIE) opportunities under DARPA AI Forward Initiative is sponsored by DARPA. The 'AI Forward' initiative is DARPA's effort to explore new directions for artificial intelligence (AI) research that will result in trustworthy systems for national security missions. Funding flows through AI Exploration (AIE) opportunities with streamlined contracting procedures designed to rapidly advance promising AI concepts. This includes proposals in offensive and defensive cybersecurity and trustworthy AI.

AI Forward Initiative (AI Exploration opportunities - AIEs) is sponsored by DARPA. AI Forward is DARPA's initiative to explore new directions for artificial intelligence (AI) research that will result in trustworthy systems for national security missions. AIEs are unique funding opportunities for researchers to establish the feasibility of new AI concepts.

AI Next Campaign / AI Exploration (AIE) Program is sponsored by Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). DARPA's AI Next Campaign and its successor, AI Forward, focus on pioneering next-generation AI algorithms and applications, including those that enhance robustness, reliability, security, and address supply chain logistics in national security missions. AI Exploration (AIE) opportunities are a key component, allowing for rapid exploration of new AI concepts.

DARPA Artificial Intelligence Exploration (AIE) Program Announcement for Rapid AI Research is sponsored by Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). This program constitutes a series of unique funding opportunities that use streamlined contracting procedures and funding mechanisms to achieve a start date within three months of an opportunity announcement, with researchers working to establish the feasibility of new AI concepts for national security missions.

Artificial Intelligence Quantified (AIQ) program is sponsored by Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). The AIQ program seeks to develop technology to assess and understand the capabilities of AI to enable guaranteed performance. Researchers will develop mathematical foundations, combined with advances in measurement and modeling, to quantify an AI system's capabilities, when they will or will not manifest, and why.

Artificial Intelligence Exploration (AIE) Program Announcement (DARPA-PA-25-03) is sponsored by Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). This program supports high-risk, high-payoff projects to establish the feasibility of new AI concepts within 18 months of award, focusing on trustworthy AI systems for national security missions. It utilizes streamlined contracting procedures for rapid initiation of projects.

AI Exploration (AIE) Program is sponsored by Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). The AI Exploration (AIE) Program constitutes a series of unique funding opportunities that use streamlined contracting procedures and funding mechanisms to achieve a start date within three months of an opportunity announcement. Researchers then work to establish the feasibility of new AI concepts within 18 months of award. AIE is a key element of DARPA's broader AI investment strategy designed to maintain U.S. technological advantage in artificial intelligence research, supporting fundamental and applied R&D projects aimed at developing AI systems that function as trusted and collaborative partners in solving problems of importance to national security.

DARPA Artificial Intelligence Exploration (AIE) Program Announcement (DARPA-PA-25-03) is sponsored by Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). The AIE program supports fundamental and applied R&D projects aimed at developing AI systems that function as trusted and collaborative partners in solving problems of importance to national security. It uses streamlined contracting procedures to achieve rapid start dates.

AI Research for National Security is sponsored by Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). This initiative funds AI research projects to enhance national defense capabilities. DARPA's AI Forward initiative explores new directions for artificial intelligence research that will result in trustworthy systems for national security missions, which can include countering information warfare and hybrid threats. The AI Next campaign, a multi-year investment of over $2 billion, supports research and development in areas such as improving the robustness and reliability of AI systems and enhancing the security and resiliency of machine learning and AI technologies.

AI Research for National Security is sponsored by U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) / DARPA. This initiative funds AI research projects to enhance national defense capabilities. It includes thrusts in 'Trustworthy AI' focusing on foundational theory, AI engineering to build systems that work as intended, and human-AI teaming. While not explicitly naming 'regulation compliance', trustworthy AI implies adherence to certain standards and ethical guidelines.