Basic Research Initiatives

The Basic Research Initiatives program, managed by the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD), is a foundational element of the Department of Defense's (DoD) research, development, test, and evaluation (RDT&E) portfolio. Its primary goal is to support mission-oriented basic research that yields transformative scientific breakthroughs, which can improve or radically change military capabilities and operations. The program invests in a wide spectrum of fundamental sciences including chemistry, biology, materials science, mathematics, computer science, and engineering. It aims to catalyze new technologies and sustain a robust scientific and engineering workforce for future DoD needs.

Basic Research Initiatives (Project 010) specifically supports the oversight and strategic direction of defense-wide basic research activities. Objectives include aligning research with DoD technology priorities, coordinating and overseeing DoD-wide basic research programs, improving the science and engineering workforce, enhancing collaboration between universities, industry, and government, and engaging with the academic and international research communities. Key components include the Strategic Support for Basic Research (SSBR), which underpins the operations of the Basic Research Office, and pilot programs such as the Bilateral Academic Research Initiative (BARI), which fosters international collaboration in areas like wireless communications, robotics, and quantum algorithms. The Modeling, Artificial Intelligence, and Wargaming for Decision Support (MAIDS) program also aims to advance analytical and predictive tools for security-relevant scenarios.

Within Project 010, the Defense Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (DEPSCoR) is designed to increase participation in DoD-funded research by institutions in underrepresented states and territories. DEPSCoR's objectives are to develop competitive science and engineering research relevant to DoD missions, grow the number of university researchers in eligible regions, and foster long-term research capacity. The program includes a Research Collaboration competition, a Capacity Building competition, and outreach activities to integrate new researchers and institutions into the DoD research ecosystem.

Other notable congressional adds under Project 010 include the Global Competition Analysis Net Assessment, which established the Global Competitive Analysis Teams (GCAT) consortium led by RAND Corporation. GCAT focuses on analyzing technology competition, autonomous vehicles, and food system security, providing rapid assessments for DoD and interagency partners. The Hispanic Serving Research Cohort supports the ASCEND consortium, which advances STEM graduate pathways and research opportunities for students and faculty at Hispanic-serving institutions. This contributes to workforce development and national security research priorities.

Minerva Research Initiative (Project 016) was dedicated to supporting university-based social science research to improve DoD's understanding of security-related social, cultural, behavioral, and political dynamics in strategically important regions. The initiative included grant programs in partnership with military and civilian research institutions and collaborations with organizations like the U.S. Institute of Peace (USIP). Pursuant to updated leadership guidance, the Minerva program was terminated in FY 2025 and FY 2026, as it was determined to no longer align with agency priorities.

Vannevar Bush Faculty Fellowship (Project 060) is a program supporting university researchers in scientific areas critical to the DoD. Its goals are to foster innovative research with transformative potential, educate and train the next generation of defense scientists, and build long-term relationships between academia and the DoD. The program covers emerging fields such as quantum information science, engineered materials, neuroscience, and machine learning. It also includes the Laboratory-University Collaboration Initiative (LUCI), which teams DoD laboratory scientists with academic researchers to accelerate the transition of scientific discoveries into military applications. The Bush Fellows Research Study Team (BFRST) program further enhances engagement between academic leaders and DoD operational needs.