This is a Department of Defense research-capacity grant for institutions of higher education in 36 eligible states and territories, offering $750,000 to $1.5 million over two years to build DoD-relevant science and engineering research capability. For-profit businesses, including small businesses, cannot apply, and neither can nonprofits. If you are not a university in one of the listed states, do not bother.
| Industry | Estimated fit |
|---|---|
| Agriculture & FarmingLimit: Only governments, nonprofits, tribes or universities may apply —… | 0 |
| Arts & CultureLimit: This program does not accept nonprofit applicants. | 0 |
| Construction & InfrastructureLimit: Only governments, nonprofits, tribes or universities may apply —… | 0 |
| Education & TrainingLimit: This program does not accept nonprofit applicants. | 0 |
| Energy & Clean TechLimit: Only governments, nonprofits, tribes or universities may apply —… | 0 |
| Environment & ConservationLimit: This program does not accept nonprofit applicants. | 0 |
| Industry | Estimated fit |
|---|---|
| Finance & BankingLimit: Only governments, nonprofits, tribes or universities may apply —… | 0 |
| Food & BeverageLimit: Only governments, nonprofits, tribes or universities may apply —… | 0 |
| Healthcare & BiotechLimit: Only governments, nonprofits, tribes or universities may apply —… | 0 |
| Housing & Real EstateLimit: Only governments, nonprofits, tribes or universities may apply —… | 0 |
| ManufacturingLimit: Only governments, nonprofits, tribes or universities may apply —… | 0 |
| Retail & E-CommerceLimit: Only governments, nonprofits, tribes or universities may apply —… | 0 |
| Social Services & NonprofitLimit: This program does not accept nonprofit applicants. | 0 |
| Technology & SoftwareLimit: Only governments, nonprofits, tribes or universities may apply —… | 0 |
| Transportation & LogisticsLimit: Only governments, nonprofits, tribes or universities may apply —… | 0 |
These are our matcher’s estimates for a typical business in each industry. A real match depends on your size, your state and what you need the money for — check your own fit.
DoD DEPSCoR Capacity Building grants of $750K-$1.5M over two years for institutions of higher education in 36 eligible states/territories to build capacity for DoD-relevant science and engineering research, develop research plans, and increase competitiveness for federal research funding.
The Department of Defense (DoD) announces the fiscal year 2026 (FY26) Defense Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (DEPSCoR) – Capacity Building opportunity. The program is sponsored and managed by the Basic Research Office, Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (OUSD [R&E]), awarded by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR), and administered through the Office of Naval Research (ONR). The DoD plans to award FY26 DEPSCoR appropriations through this announcement.
DEPSCoR's objectives are to:
(1) increase the number of university researchers in eligible States/Territories capable of performing science and engineering (S&E) research responsive to the needs of the DoD.
(2) enhance the capabilities of institutions of higher education (IHEs) in eligible States/Territories (listed below) to develop, plan, and execute S&E research that is relevant to the mission of the DoD, and competitive under the peer-review systems used for awarding Federal research assistance; and
(3) increase the probability of long-term growth in the competitively awarded financial assistance that IHEs in eligible States/Territories receive from the Federal Government for S&E research.
The Basic Research Office anticipates up to $6 million in total funding will be made available for this program to fully fund and award between one to four grants up to $1.5 million (total cost) each. Each grant award will be funded up to $750,000 (total cost) per year for two (2) years.
The award is subject to funding availability. The Basic Research Office reserves the right to select and fund for award all, some, part, or none of the proposals received. There is no guarantee of an award.
Our reading of the listing: for-profit businesses are not eligible for this one.
This funding opportunity aims to support the strategic objectives of IHEs (either individually or in partnership with others) in DEPSCoR States/Territories to achieve basic research excellence in areas of high relevance to the DoD. IHEs in the following States/Territories are eligible to apply for this DEPSCoR opportunity under this announcement: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, U.S. Virgin Islands, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming see eligibility table in III A.
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