The Fiscal Year 2025 Director’s Research Initiative (DRI) is a special funding opportunity sponsored by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR). This initiative aims to stimulate research in emerging areas of interest that may not fit within existing AFOSR portfolios. The DRI is particularly focused on advancing energy-related research in support of Air and Space Force operations. The AFOSR anticipates awarding a minimum of four grants, each ranging from $200,000 to $750,000 annually, for a period of up to three years. The total available funding for this initiative is $2.3 million, with each award anticipated to be valued between $600,000 and $2,250,000, contingent on the availability of funds.

The AFOSR encourages applicants to submit white papers that outline their proposed research concepts before submitting full proposals. Although white papers are not mandatory, they provide an opportunity for proposers to receive preliminary feedback from AFOSR technical contacts. Proposals will be reviewed by an internal panel, and the AFOSR retains the discretion to fund proposals across one, some, or all of the defined research topics. Each proposal must include a data management plan detailing how data and samples will be stored, archived, and shared in alignment with the National Science Foundation Data Management Plan policies.

This funding opportunity is open to qualified educational and non-profit institutions in the United States and internationally. However, federally funded research and development centers (FFRDCs), federal agencies, individuals, and for-profit organizations are not eligible to apply directly as primary award recipients. Universities affiliated with University Affiliated Research Centers (UARCs) may apply unless precluded by their Department of Defense contract. While Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs), and Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs) are encouraged to apply, no specific funds have been set aside for these entities.

Proposals must be submitted electronically via Grants.gov by April 1, 2025, at 11:59 PM Eastern Time. White papers, if submitted, must be received by January 31, 2025, and the AFOSR will provide feedback by February 14, 2025. Applicants may submit pre-proposal inquiries by February 19, 2025, with responses issued by February 28, 2025. Notifications of selection or non-selection are anticipated by June 15, 2025, with awards expected to be issued by July 15, 2025.

Proposed research must align with one of four designated topic areas: (1) Bio-Agile Energy, which examines biological systems in resource-restricted environments for potential applications in space; (2) Metamaterials, focusing on the behavior of time-varying materials and their implications for electromagnetic wave interactions; (3) Electrochemistry, which aims to improve energy storage and transfer by controlling reactivity at electrochemical interfaces; and (4) Space Architectures, exploring collaborative resource sharing within proliferated satellite constellations to enhance power, communications, and thermal management capabilities.

Applicants are encouraged to work collaboratively across institutions, particularly between North and South American research entities, in the case of Bio-Agile Energy. Proposals should demonstrate clear research objectives, a well-structured technical approach, and the potential to contribute to fundamental or applied scientific advancements in military-relevant energy systems. All submitted proposals will undergo a rigorous review process, and awards will be subject to compliance with federal regulations and research integrity requirements.