Department of War Awards $150 Million to Research
Twenty academic teams will receive funding for defense-related scientific projects over the next five years.
Updated on Oct. 29, 2026 in Mathematics
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The Department of War has awarded $150 million to 20 research teams stationed at 57 academic institutions across the United States. These awards were selected from an initial pool of 451 white papers to support high-priority defense research.
Why it matters
These awards provide essential support for research teams tackling complex scientific challenges of strategic importance to national defense. The funding ensures these multidisciplinary teams can sustain long-term inquiry into critical defense technologies.
The selection process utilized a merit-based review of 74 full proposals managed by the Army Research Office, Air Force Office of Scientific Research, and Office of Naval Research. Each of the 20 teams will receive an average of $7.5 million over a five-year duration.
The players
Department of War
The federal agency responsible for coordinating national military research and development initiatives.
Army Research Office
A primary military research branch tasked with managing scientific solicitation and merit-based review processes.
Air Force Office of Scientific Research
The organization responsible for investing in basic scientific research to advance the strategic capabilities of the Air Force.
Office of Naval Research
A government agency that coordinates, executes, and promotes the science and technology programs of the United States Navy.
The details
The Multidisciplinary University Research Initiative (MURI) program, which launched in 1985, facilitated this round of solicitation during fiscal year 2026. Agencies selected the winning proposals based on their strategic importance to the defense sector.
Timeline
The MURI program was established in 1985.
Agencies solicited research proposals during fiscal year 2026.
The Department of War announced the award recipients on October 29, 2026.
The Big Picture
These awards represent the latest funding cycle for the Multidisciplinary University Research Initiative (MURI), which has supported defense-related academic research since 1985. The program serves as a critical bridge between theoretical academic discovery and practical defense applications.
The funding supports long-term scientific development that may lead to future innovations in defense technology and materials science. These projects may eventually yield commercialized breakthroughs that transition from military laboratories into the civilian sector.
The takeaway
These long-term grants highlight the ongoing importance of institutional collaboration in addressing complex national security challenges. Academic researchers should monitor future solicitation windows managed by the various service branches to understand upcoming priority areas.
Further reading
Learn more about federal research funding on the Mathematics page.
More information
View the list of winning research teams on the official government portal.
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