DoD MURI FY2026 Multidisciplinary University Research Initiative for AI and Autonomy

The Department of Defense FY2026 Defense University Research Instrumentation Program (DURIP) provides funding for U.S. universities to acquire research equipment and instrumentation in areas important to national defense, including AI and machine learning hardware. The program is administered jointly by the Army Research Office (ARO), Office of Naval Research (ONR), and Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR), with approximately $34 million available and 95 awards anticipated. DURIP funds the acquisition of specialized computing hardware for AI/ML research (GPU clusters, TPUs, neuromorphic processors), robotics and autonomous systems testbeds, sensor arrays and data collection systems for machine learning training, high-performance computing infrastructure for defense-relevant AI research, and laboratory equipment for human-AI interaction studies. The program specifically supports equipment that enhances research-related education in DoD-priority disciplines. While general-purpose computing is not eligible, computing equipment directly supporting DoD-relevant AI research programs qualifies. No cost sharing is required.

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.

Department of Defense (DoD) SBIR/STTR BAA & CSO Release 5 is a grant from the U.S. Department of Defense SBIR/STTR Program that funds innovative research and development by U.S. small businesses addressing specific defense technology needs across military departments and agencies. The program releases multiple topic areas per cycle through Broad Agency Announcements (BAA) and Commercial Solutions Openings (CSO), covering areas such as advanced materials, sensors, software, and autonomous systems. Eligible applicants are U.S. small business concerns; both Phase I proposals and Direct-to-Phase II proposals are accepted. Awards are typically up to $250,000 for Phase I and up to $2 million for Direct-to-Phase II. The most recent deadline was March 25, 2026.

The NSF Convergence Accelerator is a grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) that funds multidisciplinary teams working to solve national-scale societal challenges through convergence research and innovation. Launched in 2019 under NSF's Directorate for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships, the program operates in two phases: Phase 1 awards are up to $750,000, with successful teams advancing to larger Phase 2 awards. Eligible applicants include institutions of higher education and nonprofit or for-profit organizations. Track I and Track K focus on specific high-priority topics announced each funding cycle. The next deadline is June 15, 2026. Proposals must comply with updated NSF research security policies effective July 2025.

The NSF CyberAICorps Scholarship for Service (CyberAI SFS) program is a new solicitation (NSF 26-503) that combines AI and cybersecurity education and workforce development into a unified program. It replaces the prior CyberCorps SFS program with expanded AI focus, reflecting the critical intersection of artificial intelligence and cybersecurity. The program has two tracks: the Scholarship Track supports institutions in providing scholarships to students pursuing AI and cybersecurity careers in government service, with student stipends of $27,000/year (undergraduate) or $37,000/year (graduate), plus tuition and professional development allowances. Recipients commit to government service equal to the length of their scholarship. The Innovation Track funds transformative educational projects developing new curricula, instructional materials, professional development programs, experiential learning, and communities of practice in AI and cybersecurity. The program reflects the growing national need for professionals who understand both AI systems and cybersecurity, including using AI for cybersecurity defense and securing AI systems themselves. Two scholarship track competitions run in 2026: FY2026 (April 3 target) and FY2027 (July 21 hard deadline).

The NSF Trailblazer Engineering Impact Award supports individual investigators who propose novel research projects with potential to catalyze new industries or capabilities and address national needs. Priority research areas explicitly include artificial intelligence, bioengineering, quantum engineering, robotics, and nuclear engineering, though proposals addressing other emerging engineering frontiers are considered. The program specifically encourages researchers to pursue new research directions distinct from their previous work, emphasizing transformative innovation. Awards provide up to $3 million over three years with a three-phase submission process: letters of intent due January 20 2026, preliminary proposals due March 10 2026, and full proposals due July 24 2026. Each project supports a single PI with no collaborative proposals or co-PIs permitted. Full proposals must include a workforce development plan. This program is distinct from the NSF Future Manufacturing program which supports larger convergent team projects and from the NSF National Robotics Initiative 3.0 which is specifically scoped to human-robot interaction research.