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DoD MURI FY2026 Multidisciplinary University Research Initiative for Artificial Intelligence and Autonomy Research is sponsored by U.S. Department of Defense (Office of Naval Research, Army Research Office, and Air Force Office of Scientific Research). This initiative funds basic research teams spanning multiple disciplines.
AI and autonomy is a priority topic area, covering trustworthy machine learning, autonomous systems, human-machine teaming, and information sensing and processing.
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Multidisciplinary University Research Initiatives (MURI) Program Full proposals will be accepted until Friday, September 6, 2024 at 5:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time. Please see the MURI funding announcement for details. Multidisciplinary University Initiative (MURI) efforts involve teams of researchers investigating high priority topics and opportunities that intersect more than one traditional technical discipline.
For many military problems this multidisciplinary approach serves to stimulate innovations, accelerate research progress and expedite transition of results into naval applications. MURI awards are made in research topics specified by the participating defense agencies each year that the program is in force. Specified topics change each year.
Awards are typically for a period of three years (funded incrementally or as options) with two additional years possible as options to bring the total award to five-years, and at a funding level ranging from half a million to about a million dollars per year, with the size of the award dependent upon the topic, technical goals, and availability of appropriations.
The MURI is competed in specific research topics described in the current announcement. Potential proposers are advised to read the announcement carefully. It explains the DoD's research needs upon which the topics are based.
Proposals may be submitted only by U. S. institutions of higher education (i.e. universities) with degree granting programs in science or engineering, or by consortia of such institutions.
Proposals from consortia of academic institutions may be warranted because research in the multidisciplinary topics may require forming teams with strengths in multiple science and engineering fields. One academic institution will be the primary awardee for purposes of award execution. The DoD expects that MURI programs will promote application of defense research, principally for defense purposes but also for commercial purposes.
The research topics described in the MURI announcement generally underpin dual use defense technologies that are critical to national defense and that also have good potential for commercial application.
Interactions with research and development organizations that transition research findings to application, particularly industrial organizations, DoD laboratories, and other organizations that perform research and development for defense applications, are encouraged. Proposals are evaluated competitively. Evaluation criteria are cited in the program announcement.
Point of contact: Paula Barden Email: paula. d. barden.
ctr@us. navy. mil
According to the current listing, eligibility includes: U. S. institutions of higher education; teams must span more than one traditional science or engineering discipline. Confirm the full requirements in the official notice before applying.
DoD MURI FY2026 Multidisciplinary University Research Initiative for Artificial Intelligence and Autonomy Research is funded by U.S. Department of Defense (Office of Naval Research, Army Research Office, and Air Force Office of Scientific Research). Verify program details on the funder's official page before applying.
Start from the official opportunity page linked in this listing — it carries the sponsor's submission instructions.
The FY2026 Department of Defense Multidisciplinary University Research Initiative (MURI) supports basic research in science and engineering at U.S. universities where more than one traditional discipline interacts to accelerate progress in areas of interest to DoD. The FY2026 competition spans 22 topic areas, several of which focus on artificial intelligence and autonomy, including machine learning, autonomous decision-making, information sensing and processing, and human-machine teaming. Awards provide about $1.5M per year for three years with two optional additional years. Administered jointly by the Office of Naval Research (ONR), Army Research Office (ARO), and Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR).
DoD Multidisciplinary University Research Initiative (MURI) FY2026 for Artificial Intelligence and Autonomy is sponsored by U.S. Department of Defense (Office of Naval Research, Army Research Office, and Air Force Office of Scientific Research). The FY2026 Department of Defense Multidisciplinary University Research Initiative (MURI) supports basic research in science and engineering at U. S. universities where more than one traditional discipline interacts to accelerate progress in areas of interest to DoD.
Multidisciplinary University Research Initiative (MURI) FY2026 for Artificial Intelligence and Autonomy is sponsored by U.S. Department of Defense (Office of Naval Research, Army Research Office, and Air Force Office of Scientific Research). This program supports basic research in science and engineering at U.S. universities where more than one traditional discipline interacts to accelerate progress in areas of interest to the DoD. The FY2026 competition includes topics focusing on artificial intelligence and autonomy, such as machine learning and autonomous decision-making. While primarily STEM-focused, interdisciplinary teams could potentially incorporate humanities perspectives on AI.
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