Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 Department of War (DoW) Multidisciplinary Research Program of the University Research Initiative (MURI)
🏛 Dept of the Army -- Materiel Command (DOD-AMC)
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Oct 18, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for high-risk basic research at U.S. universities. Only degree-granting institutions in science and engineering can submit proposals directly. This includes traditional universities and DoD institutions of higher education.
University-Affiliated Research Centers (UARCs) that are part of a U.S. university may submit, but Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs) cannot. Industry, DoD laboratories, and foreign entities are ineligible but may collaborate without receiving direct MURI funds.
Proposals must address groundbreaking research topics that attempt to understand or achieve something never done before. Multidisciplinary teams are central to the program's design and success.
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Program description
Army Research Office (ARO):
DoW’s MURI program addresses high-risk basic research and attempts to understand or achieve something that has never been done before. The program was initiated 40 years ago and it has regularly produced significant scientific breakthroughs with far reaching consequences to the fields of science, economic growth, and revolutionary new military technologies. Key to the program’s success is the close management of the MURI projects by Service Program Officers and their active role in providing research guidance.
See Section I. Other Information for topic descriptions and more information.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- Standard proposal narrative
- Budget and budget justification
- Curriculum vitae for senior personnel
- Letters of commitment from team members
- Evidence of university infrastructure support
- Conflict of interest disclosures
Program contact
- 👤 Ramila Century Grantor
- 📧 usarmy.rtp.devcom-arl.mbx.aro-muri@army.mil
- 📞 919-549-4214
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 12.431 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$213,594,079
-
$88,655,689
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$54,356,555
-
$49,736,421
-
$48,908,501
-
$44,245,583
-
$38,292,265
-
$34,850,000
-
$31,526,562
-
$27,457,336
Top States by Funding
- MD 10 awards $367.6M
- MA 14 awards $215.1M
- CA 11 awards $194.0M
- TX 7 awards $139.0M
- PA 10 awards $133.8M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 12.431). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $764,057,529 | |
| 2025 | $750,782,726 | |
| 2026 est. | $800,000,000 |
FAQ
Who can submit a proposal to this MURI competition?
Only U.S. universities with degree-granting programs in science or engineering. This includes DoD institutions of higher education and eligible University-Affiliated Research Centers.
Can industry partners participate in the research?
Yes, industry and other ineligible organizations may collaborate. However, they cannot receive MURI funds directly or through subaward.
What type of research does MURI support?
High-risk basic research addressing novel scientific challenges. Projects should tackle problems never attempted before, often requiring multidisciplinary approaches.
When is the application deadline?
The FY 2027 deadline is April 9, 2027. This is a fixed deadline, not rolling acceptance.
What is the typical award amount?
The program offers awards up to $7.5 million. The entire FY 2027 pool is $170 million across all topics.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Assemble a multidisciplinary research team. MURI rewards teams that span multiple scientific or engineering disciplines working together.
- Focus on high-risk, high-reward basic research. Standard incremental studies won't compete. Your project should tackle something genuinely novel.
- Demonstrate active collaboration with DoD Program Officers. The program emphasizes close management and research guidance from the Service. Plan for regular engagement.
- Address one of the published topic areas directly. Review the Section I topic descriptions carefully and align your proposal to a specific MURI research priority.
- Show clear pathways to military relevance and scientific breakthroughs. Explain how your research advances both fundamental science and potential defense applications.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Submitting from ineligible organizations. Only universities with science/engineering degree programs can be the lead institution. Proposing incremental research instead of high-risk novel work. MURI funds paradigm shifts, not routine investigations. Ignoring multidisciplinary requirements. Teams that are too narrow in scope rarely succeed.
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