Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Department of Defense Multidisciplinary Research Program of the University Research Initiative (MURI)

Background
The Department of Defense (DoD) Multidisciplinary University Research Initiative (MURI), sponsored by the DoD research offices including the Office of Naval Research (ONR), the Army Research Office (ARO), and the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR), addresses high-risk basic research and aims to understand or achieve something that has never been done before. The program has a history of producing significant scientific breakthroughs with far-reaching consequences to the fields of science, economic growth, and revolutionary new military technologies. The close management of the MURI projects by Service Program Officers plays a key role in providing research guidance.

Grant Details
The MURI program supports basic research in science and engineering at U.S. institutions of higher education, focusing on multidisciplinary research efforts where more than one traditional discipline interacts to provide rapid advances in scientific areas of interest to the DoD. The total amount of funding for the five years available for grants resulting from this MURI FOA is estimated to be approximately $200 million dollars pending out-year appropriations. Awards will take the form of grants, with typical annual funding per grant up to $1.5M. The program encourages proposals from a team of university investigators when necessary expertise resides in different universities.

Eligibility Requirements
This MURI competition is open only to U.S. institutions of higher education (universities) with degree-granting programs in science and/or engineering, including DoD institutions of higher education. Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Minority-Serving Institutions are encouraged for all topics listed in this MURI FOA, with additional funding available specifically to support their participation in select topics.

Period of Performance
The period of performance for the contract is estimated over five years, with specific deadlines for white paper inquiries, white paper submissions, application inquiries, application submissions, and start date of grant.

Grant Value
Typical annual funding per grant is up to $1.5M.