Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Department of Defense Multidisciplinary Research Program of the University Research Initiative (MURI)

The Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Department of Defense Multidisciplinary Research Program of the University Research Initiative (MURI) is a funding opportunity sponsored by the Department of Defense (DoD) research offices, including the Office of Naval Research (ONR), the Army Research Office (ARO), and the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR). The MURI program is part of the broader University Research Initiatives (URI) and aims to fund multidisciplinary research projects that address high-risk, high-reward basic research challenges that have the potential to contribute to both scientific advancement and national defense capabilities. The program seeks to foster collaboration among researchers from different disciplines and institutions to accelerate progress in fundamental research areas that are of interest to the DoD.

The funding will be provided through grants, with an estimated total of $170 million available over five years, contingent on annual appropriations. Each awarded project can receive up to $1.5 million per year in funding. The DoD reserves the right to fund all, some, or none of the proposals submitted. The research should focus on basic science and engineering that has the potential to advance knowledge in fields critical to national defense. The funding agencies emphasize that MURI awards do not cover proposal development costs, and all submissions will be treated as competitive and confidential.

Applicants must be U.S. institutions of higher education (universities) with degree-granting programs in science and/or engineering, including DoD institutions of higher education. University-affiliated research centers (UARCs) that are part of U.S. institutions of higher education and are not designated as Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs) are eligible to apply. However, industry, DoD laboratories, FFRDCs, and foreign entities are ineligible for direct funding but may collaborate in research efforts. There is no limitation on the number of proposals a single institution can submit.

The application process consists of two main steps: submission of white papers and full proposals. While white papers are optional, they are strongly recommended, as they allow potential applicants to receive feedback before submitting a full proposal. White papers are due by May 2, 2025, at 5:00 PM Eastern Time, with initial evaluation notifications expected by June 13, 2025. Full proposals must be submitted via Grants.gov by September 5, 2025, at 5:00 PM Eastern Time, with funding decisions expected by January 2026 and award start dates projected for May 1, 2026.

Applications will be evaluated based on scientific and technical merit, potential to advance fundamental understanding in the research area, relevance to the DoD mission, qualifications of the research team, and feasibility of the research plan and budget. The evaluation panel may consist of DoD personnel and external subject-matter experts under non-disclosure agreements. Security reviews will also be conducted to ensure compliance with national security and research integrity policies.

Key points of contact for technical, administrative, and business-related inquiries include Dr. Amanda Netburn (ONR), Dr. Sue Kase (ARO), and Ms. Katie Wisecarver (AFOSR), among others. Submissions must be validated through Grants.gov, and applicants are encouraged to submit their proposals at least two business days before the deadline to account for any system processing delays.