The NSF Directorate for STEM Education offers supplemental funding of up to $25,000 per request to support creation of youth and educator teams addressing real-world challenges through AI solutions as part of the Presidential AI Challenge. Approximately 100 multi-person teams are expected to be supported. Eligible expenses include challenge-relevant equipment, supplies, software, educator and student stipends, travel for events, community showcases, and mentorship support. Applicants must demonstrate engagement with underserved regions needing AI education resources and are encouraged to partner with schools, industries, and nonprofits.

The Office of Naval Research Global (ONR Global), in partnership with the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) Singapore, launched the GlobalX Innovation Joint Challenge: AI for Advancing Maritime Security. This nine-month international science challenge seeks innovative, multidisciplinary research to develop artificial intelligence solutions that enhance scene perception and operational context understanding for unmanned maritime systems (UxVs). The challenge accelerates the traditional knowledge generation cycle, proving or disproving applied research theories on an advanced timeline, leading to discovery of revolutionary dual-use capability for the benefit of the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps, the commercial marketplace, and the general public. White papers were due May 23, 2025 and full proposals due June 23, 2025.

The FY2026 Department of Defense Multidisciplinary University Research Initiative (MURI) program supports basic research in science and engineering at U.S. institutions of higher education, with emphasis on multidisciplinary research where more than one traditional discipline interacts. The Army, Navy, and Air Force basic research offices are seeking applications across 22 topic areas including artificial intelligence and autonomy, information sensing and processing, and systems manipulation. MURI grants typically provide $1.25 million to $1.5 million per year for three years with option to extend two additional years. Approximately $170 million in total funding is available annually across all topics. The program is administered through the Office of Naval Research (ONR), Army Research Office (ARO), and Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR).

The Department of Defense announced the Fiscal Year 2026 Multidisciplinary University Research Initiative (MURI), a major competitive funding program with $170 million total across 22 topic areas. MURI supports basic research in science and engineering at U.S. institutions of higher education with emphasis on multidisciplinary research efforts where more than one traditional discipline interacts to provide rapid advances in scientific areas of interest to the DoD. The program is jointly sponsored by the Office of Naval Research (ONR), the Army Research Office (ARO), and the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR). Topic areas span autonomous systems, AI and machine learning, quantum science, advanced materials, and other frontier research domains relevant to national defense. Individual MURI grants typically provide $1.25 million to $1.5 million per year for three years, with an option for two additional years. The funding opportunity number is W911NF25S0004. Optional white papers were due May 2, 2025, and full proposals are due September 5, 2025. MURI has operated for over 40 years and is one of the DoD's premier mechanisms for university-based fundamental research. The program emphasizes close management by Service Program Officers and requires true multidisciplinary collaboration.