Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 Department of War (DoW) Multidisciplinary Research Program of the University Research Initiative (MURI)

Background
The Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 Department of War (DoW) Multidisciplinary Research Program of the University Research Initiative (MURI) is sponsored by the DoW research offices, including the Office of Naval Research (ONR), Army Research Office (ARO), and Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR). The MURI program aims to fund U.S. academic research teams to conduct high-impact basic research that addresses future challenges faced by the Department of War, particularly in multidisciplinary fields. Established in 1985, MURI has a history of producing significant scientific breakthroughs with implications for national security and defense technologies.

Grant Details
The MURI program supports basic research in science and engineering at U.S. institutions of higher education that is relevant to DoW. Proposals should address complex, DoW-relevant problem sets at the intersection of multiple scientific disciplines. The total funding available for this NOFO is approximately $170 million over five years, with typical annual funding per grant up to $1.5 million. Proposals must include a project abstract and adhere to Gold Standard Science principles, ensuring reproducibility, transparency, and collaboration. Specific topics for research include non-linear mixing processes for EUV and X-ray radiation, tunable goniopolar semiconductors, AI robustness in scientific discovery, and various other advanced materials and processes as detailed in the topic descriptions.

Eligibility Requirements
Eligible applicants are U.S. institutions of higher education with degree-granting programs in science or engineering. Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs) are not eligible but may collaborate on research. There are no limitations on the number of applications an applicant may submit under this announcement.

Period of Performance
The anticipated period of performance for grants resulting from this NOFO is five years, starting from August 2027.

Grant Value
The total value of the grant opportunity is estimated at approximately $170 million over five years, with individual grants typically not exceeding $1.5 million annually.

Place of Performance
The grant will be performed at U.S. institutions of higher education.