DOD awards $43 million to U.S. universities to purchase equipment for defense-related research

The Department of Defense (DOD) announced awards totaling $43 million to 112 university researchers under the Defense University Research Instrumentation Program (DURIP). The grants will support the purchase of major equipment at 64 institutions across 28 states in Fiscal Year 2025, helping them augment current and introduce new capabilities in defense-relevant research areas.

One of the Department's strategic investments in the United States' scientific ecosystem, the DURIP program equips universities to perform state-of-the-art research that boosts the nation's technological advantage, while ensuring that the future science, technology, engineering, and mathematics workforce remains second to none. This year's awards will fund equipment and instrumentation to accelerate basic research in such DOD-priority areas as quantum computing, photonics, human performance, autonomy, and the design, development, and characterization of novel materials.

"DURIP awards build vital research infrastructure, advancing the exploration of novel ideas and upholding the cutting-edge capabilities of our academic institutions," says Dr. Bindu Nair, director of the Basic Research Office in the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering. "This funding helps guarantee the enduring scientific excellence of our universities, nurtures the development of the next STEM workforce, and catalyzes scientific innovations that will revolutionize military capabilities in the years ahead."

Administered through a merit-based competition by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research, Army Research Office, and Office of Naval Research, the highly competitive annual program seeks specific proposals from university investigators conducting foundational science and engineering research with implications for national defense.

Awards made by the military service research offices are subject to successful completion of negotiations with the academic institutions.

The list of winning proposals can be downloaded here.