Research Development Newsletter
Funding Opportunities
Each week RTT emails a newsletter of relevant funding opportunities to the Mines research announcements listserv. Below is a copied list of relevant funding opportunities currently open for submission. If you would like to be added to our weekly newsletter please contact Lisa Kinzel (lkinzel@mines.edu).
DOE to Fund Enhanced Oil Recovery Projects for Unconventional Reservoirs with Applications Due December 13, 2023
Through this FOA (DE-FOA-0003015) the DOE FECM will support research to evaluate and validate the incremental oil production via CO2-EOR injection in unconventional oil reservoirs using horizontal, hydraulically fractured wells and assessing the CO2 storage potential. The DOE expects to make up to 2 awards of up to $8.6M each, with a 3-4 year period of performance. Applications are due December 13, 2023.
NSF AccelNet Accepting Proposals for Network Building by December 11, 2023
The contemporary research landscape is a collaborative and international enterprise requiring high level coordination among multi-disciplinary, cross-cultural teams. As such, the Accelerating Research through International Network-to-Network Collaborations program (AccelNet) (NSF 23-619) values cooperation over competition. Program goals are to 1) leverage prior NSF support for building research capacity towards activities that launch international research network of networks (NoN) that will lead to an accelerated advancement of an area of science after the award period and 2) recruit and foster a diverse and internationally competent US-based workforce trained in conducting and leading multi-team international collaboration. Any area funded by the National Science Foundation is eligible, particularly those addressing grand research challenges identified within research communities and/or by NSF. Funding is available across three tracks: Design, Phase I Implementation, and Phase II Implementation. Proposals are due December 11, 2023.
DOE NOI: Regional Initiative for Technical Assistance Partnerships (RITAP) to Advance Deployment of Basin-Scale Carbon Transport and Storage and Community Engagement FOA to be Released in November 2023
The DOE National Energy Technology Laboratory has issued a Notice of Intent to release a FOA (DE-FOA-0003013) which will build on the knowledge and experience gained through past and current efforts to address the unique challenges and opportunities of multiple CCUS and storage-based CM projects developed within a single geologic basin or sub-basin. Challenges may include pressure interference among neighboring storage facilities, pore space and mineral rights conflicts, transportation rights-of way, diverse regulatory jurisdictions, etc. The projects would provide a valuable public information resource for developers of carbon storage sites that need assistance in addressing these challenges and affected communities that seek to participate in the resolution of these challenges. The FOA is anticipated to be released sometime in November 2023.
DOE NOI: Enhancing the Electric Power Systems’ Reliability and Resilience via Sensor Data Analytics Demonstrations FOA to be Released in November 2023
The DOE National Energy Technology Laboratory has issued a Notice of Intent to release a FOA (DE-FOA-0003128), the objective of which is to enhance grid reliability and resilience in the age of big data. The electric power industry is witnessing an explosive growth in the volume and velocity of utility data. Specifically, the tsunami of data generated by the Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) as well as sensors with fast-streaming data sets (e.g., phasor measurement units) have been challenging the traditional methods of data acquisition, use, and storage in utilities; will be a cooperative agreement; and support various Office of Electricity (OE). The FOA is anticipated to be released sometime in November 2023.
DOE Announces $30M for Technologies That Create Valuable Products from Otherwise Wasted Natural Gas While Reducing Methane Emissions From Flaring with Deadline of November 27, 2023
The DOE FECM Office is accepting proposals to DE-FOA-0003017 for innovative technologies to eliminate flaring from oil and natural gas production. The objective of this FOA is to competitively solicit cost-shared research proposals for pilot-scale field deployment and validation of efficient, cost-effective solutions ready for pre-commercialization (advancing research from a TRL 6 to a minimum of TRL 7) that can eliminate flaring and non-safety related venting of natural gas at the well site. Projects sought under this FOA include the use of innovative technologies for processing and separating oil and associated gas at the well site designed to eliminate flaring, as well as new technologies designed to convert the associated natural gas into value-added solid or liquid products. Proposals can also develop technologies that use both processing and conversion, provided the applicant demonstrates that the overall process is technically feasible, economically feasible and ready for pilot-scale field testing at the well site. DOE expects to make up to three awards of up to $10M each for a five-year performance period. Applications are due November 27, 2023.
NSF Division of Physics Accepting Proposals with Varying Deadlines Across all Disciplinary Programs
Nov. 20 – Dec. 12
NSF’s Division of Physics supports physics research and the preparation of future scientists in the nation’s colleges and universities across a broad range of physics disciplines that span scales of space and time from the largest to the smallest and the oldest to the youngest. The Division is comprised of disciplinary programs covering experimental and theoretical research in the following major subfields of physics: Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics; Elementary Particle Physics; Gravitational Physics; Integrative Activities in Physics; Nuclear Physics; Particle Astrophysics; Physics at the Information Frontier; Physics of Living Systems; Plasma Physics; and Quantum Information Science. Under this broad solicitation (23-615) Principal Investigators are encouraged to consider including specific efforts to increase diversity of the physics community and broaden participation of under-represented groups in STEM. Deadlines, award sizes, and proposal requirements may vary depending on the discipline and grant type.
DOE Carbon Utilization Procurement Grants Accepting Concept Papers Through Nov. 20 – Dec. 12
The overall objective of this FOA (DE-FOA-0002829), funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), is to support DOE’s current vision of the Carbon Utilization Procurement Grants Program which will illustrate that several incumbent products can be replaced or supplemented with alternatives that are derived from the conversion of anthropogenic carbon oxides, demonstrating that significant net reductions in greenhouse gas emissions are possible. These grants will illustrate that more sustainable alternatives are viable and will promote the deployment of these products even after the grant ends. While the prime applicant is expected to be a state, county, city, or township government, Mines is eligible as a subrecipient. Awards will range from $50K to $500K and will have a performance period of 12-24 months. A required concept paper may be submitted at any time. This FOA will remain open until April 30, 2024, or until it is amended or succeeded by another issuance, whichever comes first.
NOAA Will Support Research on Climate and Fire Weather with Applications Due November 16, 2023
NOAA’s Weather Program Office is soliciting proposals for two grant competitions from this notification (NOAA-OAR-WPO-2024-2008082), valued at approximately $2M per year as follows: 1) Climate Testbed (CTB), and 2) Fire Weather. This funding opportunity will allow NOAA to support new weather, water, and earth system observing and forecasting applications, including improved analysis techniques, better statistical or dynamic forecast models and techniques, and communication of that information to better inform the public. In particular, projects are sought that are responsive to the priorities articulated in the Science Advisory Board’s 2021 Priorities for Weather Research Report. Proposals are due by November 16, 2023.
DOE Announces BIL-Supported Federal Funds for CO2 Transport FEED Studies with Application Due November 16, 2023
Funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), through this FOA (DE-FOA-0002730) the Carbon Capture Technology Program will support front-end engineering and design (FEED) studies for commercial-scale regional carbon dioxide transport projects. The transport system may consist of any single mode of transport infrastructure, including pipeline, rail, truck, ship, or barge. Multi-model transport projects will be considered in future rounds. The DOE anticipates making 6 or more awards each year of up to $3M each between FY23 and FY26. Applications are due November 16, 2023.
DOE Announces New Topics for Clean Hydrogen Production, Storage, Transport, and Utilization with Proposals Due November 14, 2023
The DOE Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management (FECM) has announced modification 10 of DE-FOA-0002400 Clean Hydrogen Production, Storage, Transport, and Utilization to Enable a Net-Zero Carbon Economy which opens up a total of $22.6M in funding for three new areas of interest. These areas of interest include:
- AOI 18: Maturation of Technologies for Gasification-Based Clean Hydrogen Systems
- AOI 19: Advanced Sensors to Enable Gasification to Provide Clean Hydrogen Meeting Hydrogen-Shot Cost parameters
- AOI 20: Digital Twins for Advanced Monitoring, Detection, and Security for Integrated Hydrogen-Based Systems with Carbon Capture
Individual awards will range from $500K to $7M depending on the AOI. Full applications are due November 14, 2023.
DOE Critical Materials Innovation FOA Released with Proposals Due by November 10, 2023
The DOE FECM Office has announced a FOA to invest in critical materials innovation, efficiency, and alternatives (DE-FOA-0003105). Funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), this FOA will support the creation of innovative methods and technologies for the efficient and sustainable provision of critical materials to the domestic economy. The expected activities will mitigate the environmental and health impacts of the extraction, processing, manufacturing, use, recovery, and recycling of critical materials. A broad range of RD&D topic areas are included. DOE expects to fund a total of up to $150M in new awards. Individual awards will vary between $500K and $30M, depending on the topic area. Applications are due November 10, 2023.
We expect broad interest across Mines in this FOA. All potential investigators are invited to join RTT in a gathering in order to share plans, partners, and strategies on a date to be determined. Stay tuned for more information.
DOE Releases FOA for University Turbine Systems Research with Proposals Due November 7, 2023
The DOE Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management (FECM) has released a FOA (DE-FOA-0003016) focused on fundamental and applied research to further advance the use of hydrogen as a gas turbine fuel. The objective of this FOA is to solicit and competitively award university-based R&D projects that address and resolve fundamental scientific challenges and applied engineering technology issues associated with thermal management of combustors and hot gas path components for gas turbines. Specifically, R&D projects will conduct fundamental and applied research to develop advanced materials and advanced hot gas path components which utilize these advanced materials, advanced cooling architectures, and advanced manufacturing methods. The FOA will seek to solicit and competitively award laboratory/bench-scale R&D in the following areas of interest (AOI): AOI 1: Fundamental Materials Development for Hot Gas Path Hydrogen Turbine Components AOI 2: Applied Materials Development for Hot Gas Path Hydrogen Turbine Components AOI 3: Fundamental Materials Development for Hydrogen Rotating Detonation Engines (RDEs). DOE intends to make eight awards of up to $800K each for a three-year project period. Full proposals are due November 7, 2023.
DOE MAKE IT Prize to Accelerate Manufacturing of Critical Clean Energy Technologies: Facilities Track and Strategies Track – October Deadlines
The prize will make available approximately $30 million in total funding to catalyze domestic manufacturing of critical clean energy technology components, moving manufacturing facilities from planning to shovel-ready, and enabling strategies for vibrant manufacturing activity in communities.
Facilities Track: U.S.-based entities interested in building domestic manufacturing facilities for critical clean energy components will be eligible to participate in the Facilities track. Each winner will receive up to $5,000,000 for developing facilities to the point of being shovel-ready for construction.
Strategies Track: Teams working to promote clean energy manufacturing activity in their regions will be eligible to participate in the Strategies Track. Each winner will receive up to $400,000 for creating a roadmap to bring clean energy manufacturing to their region and providing demonstrated interest from at least one manufacturing developer.
$30M is available across both tracks. See embedded links for deadlines for informational webinars and the various submission phases for both tracks.
NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) has Multiple October Deadlines
The purpose of the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) is to help ensure the quality, vitality, and diversity of the scientific and engineering workforce of the United States. The program recognizes and supports outstanding graduate students who are pursuing full-time research-based master’s and doctoral degrees in STEM or in STEM education. The GRFP provides three years of support over a five-year fellowship period for the graduate education of individuals who have demonstrated their potential for significant research achievements in STEM or STEM education. NSF actively encourages submission of applications from the full spectrum of diverse talent in STEM. Awards are anticipated to amount to $159K per fellowship. Applications are due between October 16 and October 20, 2023, depending on the relevant NSF Directorate.
NSF AI Institutes Program Accepting Preliminary Proposals in October and January
The NSF Artificial Intelligence Institutes program (NSF 23-610) is a multisector effort led by the NSF, in partnership with the Simons Foundation, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, Department of Defense Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, Capital One Financial Corporation, and Intel Corporation.
This program solicitation expands the nationwide network of AI Research Institutes with new funding opportunities over the next two years. In this round, the program invites proposals for institutes that have a principal focus in one of the following themes aimed at transformational advances in a range of economic sectors, and science and engineering fields:
Group 1 – Preliminary proposal deadline: 10/31/23; Awards anticipated in FY 2024:
Theme 1: AI for Astronomical Sciences
Group 2 – Preliminary proposal deadline: 1/12/24; Awards anticipated in FY 2025:
Theme 2: AI for Discovery in Materials Research
Theme 3: Strengthening AI
Awards will be made for between $16M and $20M for four to five years. This large program is limited to two submissions per institution. Expressions of interest are being accepted through InfoReady through 9/15/23. Please reach out to the Mines RTT Office if you have an interest in applying and would like to coordinate an approach.
DOE Releases FOA for Advancing U.S. Thin-Film Solar Photovoltaics with Partnership Opportunities for Mines; Concept Papers Due October 24, 2023
The Advancing U.S. Thin-Film Solar Photovoltaics Program (DE-FOA-0003058) will focus on accelerating the capabilities of two thin-film photovoltaic (PV) technologies: metal-halide perovskite PV and cadmium telluride (CdTe) PV technologies. It will fund innovative industrial research and development (R&D) projects that will enable future commercialization of hybrid tandem perovskite PV, defined as a perovskite PV in combination with another technology such as silicon or CdTe. It will also fund industrial research, development, and demonstration (RD&D) projects across the materials, equipment, installation, and performance monitoring sectors to improve the competitiveness of the domestic CdTe PV industry. This FOA promotes American leadership in thin-film PV technology by promoting the domestic manufacture of thin-film PV modules. With this goal in mind, only for-profit entities and teams led by for-profit entities may apply to this FOA. Individual awards will range from $1M to $20M for an up to 36-month performance period. Concept papers are due October 24, 2023 and invited full applications are due December 12, 2023. An informational webinar will be held on September 26, 2023.
Read FOA | Register for Webinar
DOE Funding Advanced Processing of Critical Minerals and Materials for Industrial and Manufacturing Applications with Proposals Due October 20, 2023
The DOE has released a BIL-supported FOA (DE-FOA-0002619) to fund projects to help lower the costs of onshore production of rare earths and other critical minerals and materials from domestic coal-based resources. Specifically, this FOA will invest $30M to conduct proof-of-concept testing in laboratory- or bench-scale facilities, addressing the potential viability of advanced innovative processes to produce individually separated, high purity rare oxides/rare earth salts, and high purity single or binary rare earth metals, at costs lower than conventional methods. There are two topic areas:
1. Advanced Process Development for Production of Rare Earth Metals and Co-Production of Critical Minerals and Materials from Coal-Based Resources (awards up to $5M each); and
2. Production of Critical Minerals and Materials Excluding Materials Containing Rare Earth Elements from Coal-Based Resources (awards up to $2.5M each).
Performance periods are anticipated to be up to 3 years. Full applications are due October 20, 2023.
DOE Intends to Fund Carbon Dioxide Transportation Infrastructure with FOA Expected This Fall
The DOE National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) intends to issue a FOA (DE-FOA-0002966) for CIFIA Future Growth Grants on behalf of the Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management’s (FECM) Carbon Transport and Storage Program. Funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), the anticipated FOA will support common carrier carbon dioxide transportation infrastructure projects, including pipelines, rail, ships and barges, and ground shipping, that connect anthropogenic point sources of CO2 with endpoints for storage and utilization. Carbon management technologies such as carbon capture from industry and power generation, direct air capture, carbon conversion, and CO2 transportation and storage technologies must be deployed at a large scale in the coming decades to meet the United States’ net-zero greenhouse gas goals by 2050. This FOA is anticipated to be issued in the first quarter of FY24.
Mines Partnership Opportunity for Mitigating Emissions from Marginal Conventional Wells Accepting Proposals by September 30, 2023
The DOE is partnering with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to make funds available through DE-FOA-0003109 to eligible States for the purpose of mitigating methane emissions from marginal conventional wells (MCWs) by providing financial assistance to operators/well owners to voluntarily and permanently plug and abandon MCWs (including elements of environmental restoration required to comply with applicable State or Federal plugging and abandonment standards and regulations) on non-Federal lands as well as monitor methane emissions from MCWs. Eligibility for the prime recipient for this IRA-funded program is restricted to States. Mines may participate as a subcontractor. Applications are due September 30, 2023.
Office of Naval Research Vannevar Bush Faculty Fellowship Program Accepting White Papers through September 29, 2023
The VBFF award (N00014-23-S-F006) supports distinguished researchers for the purpose of conducting innovative basic research in a variety of areas of interest to the DoD and fostering long-term relationships between the VBFF Fellows and the DoD. VBFF is oriented towards bold and ambitious “blue sky” research that may lead to extraordinary outcomes such as revolutionizing entire disciplines, creating entirely new fields, or disrupting accepted theories and perspectives. Faculty with tenure at time of application are eligible; co-PIs are not allowed. Award size is up to $3M for a 5-year performance period. White papers are due September 29, 2023 and full applications are due February 9, 2023.
NSF Boosting Research Ideas for Transformative and Equitable Advances in Engineering (BRITE) Accepting Proposals by September 28, 2023
This solicitation (NSF 23-592) seeks proposals that enable experienced researchers with active research programs to take risks not typically associated with proposals submitted to core programs by pivoting to research areas where they have no proven track record, gaining knowledge from a different discipline and using it to forge new directions in their research field, or exploring divergent, bold, and ambitious research ideas where the expected scientific outcomes are highly uncertain and the potential to transform a field is significant, or experienced researchers with a hiatus in research activity to reestablish a foundation for sustained research productivity and broader impacts. All BRITE proposals are expected to address fundamental research that creates new knowledge in one or more program areas of the Division of Civil, Mechanical and Manufacturing Innovation (CMMI). The solicitation supports three funding tracks: Pivot, Relaunch, and Fellow. Anticipated funding range for individual awards is $100K to $200K per year for 3 years. Full applications are due September 28, 2023.
An informational webinar will take place on Monday, July 10th 12:00 pm – 1:30 pm MST.
Read solicitation | Register for Webinar
DOE Releases Silicon Solar Manufacturing and Dual-Use Photovoltaics Incubator Opportunity with Concepts Due September 27, 2023
This $45M BIL-supported Silicon Manufacturing and Dual-Use Photovoltaic Incubator funding opportunity (DE-FOA-0003057) will support pilot demonstrations of manufacturing of solar components that will contribute to a domestic manufacturing sector capable of meeting the Administration’s solar deployment goals without relying on imported products. The funding will also support the development of new “dual use” solar technologies such as agrivoltaics and building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV), to create new markets for American products. The prime applicant is expected to be a for-profit entity. Mines may participate as a subrecipient. Pilot demonstration project awards will range from $1M to $10M and dual-use photovoltaic project awards will range from $400K to $1.6M. Required concepts papers are due September 27, 2023 and full applications are due November 14, 2023.
DOE Issues Notice of Intent to Advance Production, Reuse, and Recycling of Critical Minerals
The DOE Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management (FECM) today issued a notice of intent to fund a Bipartisan Infrastructure Law program that will advance cost effective and environmentally responsible production, reuse, and recycling of critical minerals and materials in the United States.
If issued, this FOA (DE-FOA-0003153) will support bench- and pilot-scale research, development, and demonstration projects for:
- Technologies or process improvements along the domestic supply chain that develops new supplies of critical minerals and materials here at home;
- Value-added products created from other materials that are part of the waste streams from which critical minerals and materials are extracted;
- New, next-generation technologies to be used for lower cost, environmentally responsible extraction, production, separation, and processing of critical minerals and materials;
- Alternatives or substitutes for critical minerals and materials that do not occur in great abundance in the United States, but can be used as replacements in clean energy technologies; and
- New or improved alternative energy technologies or designs that use critical minerals and materials that are abundant in the United States.
DOE expects to issue the FOA during the third quarter of calendar year 2023.
NASA Science Mission Directorate Announces New ROSES Proposal Opportunities with Multiple Deadlines
ROSES-2023 (NNH23ZDA001N) is an omnibus NASA Research Announcement with over 100 different proposal opportunities. NASA recently announced two proposal opportunities: Solar Irradiance Science Team and Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) Science Team.
For A.11 SWOT Science Team, notices of intent are requested by November 9, 2023 and proposals are due December 15, 2023.
NSF Computational and Data-enabled Science and Engineering Meta-Program Accepting Proposals Throughout Year
The goal of the Computational and Data-enabled Science and Engineering (CDS&E) meta-program (PD-23-8084) is to identify and capitalize on opportunities for major scientific and engineering breakthroughs through new computational and data-analysis approaches and best practices. The CDS&E meta-program supports projects that harness computation and data to advance knowledge and accelerate discovery above and beyond the goals of the participating individual programs. The intellectual drivers may be in an individual discipline or cut across more than one discipline in various Divisions and Directorates. A CDS&E proposal should enable and/or utilize the development and adaptation of advances in research and infrastructure in computational and data science. Award sizes and deadlines vary by Directorate.
Army Contracting Command Announces Broad Agency Announcement for Development, Maturing, Demonstrating and Transitioning Aviation Related Critical Technologies
Through this Master Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) (W911W6-23-R-0010), the Army Contracting Command announces its intent to solicit future proposals in alignment with its mission to develop, mature, demonstrate and transition critical technologies and products through technology programs and customer support that modernize, maintain and sustain Army Aviation as the dominant land force aviation component in the world. Individual calls will specify the research area(s) being solicited. This BAA closes on June 20, 2024.
U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Broad Agency Announcement on Enabling Cyber-Linked Physical Sensing Exploitation Accepting White Papers
This Broad Agency Announcement (FA8650-21-S-1016) on Enabling Cyber-Linked Physical Sensing Exploitation (ECLPSE) will be a Two Step, Open BAA to support research and analysis on cyber-physical sensing and Electronic Warfare (EW)-kinetic effects to enable understanding how cyber-connected devices interact with the physical environment found in manufacturing automation, utilities, transportation, agricultural, medical, and other common applications. This effort will also support research and analysis regarding the prevention and exploitation of information leakages similar to electromagnetic security (EMSEC) vulnerabilities in the cyber/EW-physical domain. Individual contracts will be up to $20M. The first step is submission of a white paper. Approved white paper offerors will receive Requests for Proposals. This BAA closes on February 25, 2026.
DEVCOM Army Research Laboratory Broad Agency Announcement for Foundational Research
This BAA (W911NF-23-S-0001) and the associated list of research topics is accepting white papers and proposals that help the ARL meet its mission to operationalize science to ensure overmatch in any future conflict. This BAA combines two previously separate BAAs focused on basic and applied research into a single document and closes on November 20, 2027.
FY23 NAVAL AIR WARFARE CENTER AIRCRAFT DIVISION OFFICE-WIDE BROAD AGENCY ANNOUNCEMENT (BAA)
The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD) is interested in receiving white papers for Research and Development projects which offer potential for advancement and improvement of NAWCAD operations.
Army Geospatial Center (AGC) – July 26, 2024
This Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) is general in nature and addresses multiple topic areas of research for the Systems and Acquisition Support Directorate and the Warfighter Support Directorate. Submissions in response to this announcement shall be for areas relating to the advancement of a wide variety of geospatial topics, which are listed in 2023_AGC Broad Agency Announcement (BAA)_Review – KO Signed FINAL’. Accordingly, proposals selected for award are considered to be the result of full and open competition and fully compliant with Public Law 98-369, ‘The Competition in Contracting Act of 1984’.
DARPA-RA-23-02 Forward-Looking Experimentation (FLEX) – August 9, 2024
The Microsystems Technology Office at DARPA seeks fundamental research proposals for disruptive ideas in information and communication technologies (ICT) addressing the grand challenges for a data-driven future. Proposed research should investigate innovative approaches that enable revolutionary advances in science, devices, or systems. The goal of the Forward-Looking Experimentation (FLEX) program is to identify the direction and timing of key disruptive advances in ICT, accelerate technology exploration and generate intellectual property, develop next-generation researchers for the U.S. workforce, and build the foundation for future research programs.
DARPA Artificial Intelligence Exploration (AIE) – August 20, 2024 4:00 PM
Current Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies are being successfully exploited to achieve powerful new capabilities. DARPA seeks to invest in focused explorations of what the AI science and technologies of the future could be. DARPA’s AI Exploration (AIE) program will enable exploratory research on a range of AI related topics that will be periodically solicited as AIE Opportunities through publication of Presolicitation Notices under Contract Opportunities on https://SAM.gov. It is DARPA’s intent to make awards for future AIE Opportunities within 90 days of posting on https://SAM.gov. In order to ensure that DARPA achieves the AIE goal of award within 90 calendar days from the posting date of each AIE Opportunity, DARPA reserves the right to cease negotiations when an award is not executed by both parties (DARPA and the selected organization) on or before the deadline explicitly listed in each AIE Opportunity Notice. This deadline will be no more than 90 calendar days from the posting date of the corresponding AIE Opportunity.
Advanced Manufacturing Research in support of the Sciences of Extreme Materials Competency – Closing date Nov. 19, 2027
Army modernization requires a set of robust manufacturing strategies and integrated capabilities that enable a highly connected and collaborative enterprise. Agile manufacturing involves digitally enabled advanced manufacturing (AdvM) technologies with ubiquitous access to rapid prototyping, small-scale production, materials by design, etc. that are capable of scalable, and on-demand distributed production of components and systems. Agile manufacturing integrates the procedures, resources, and preparation that are needed to respond to changes in the demand utilizing systems, resources, and practice to react to these demands and adapt quickly without jeopardizing the Army’s ability to meet the performance requirements.
This area seeks transformational materials that can operate in extreme conditions, and methods to manufacture them readily in the organic US industrial base as well as in austere environments at the point of need. Next generation Army components and systems will need to integrate novel structures of unmatched geometric complexity, and novel materials produced using novel data driven digital manufacturing methods. Topics of interest include: Additive manufacturing, Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) techniques for AdvM, Printed hybrid electronics including multi-functional devices and structures, Novel and robust design methodologies for convergent manufacturing, and more.
Electric- and Magnetic-Field Sensor Technology – Closing date Nov. 19, 2027
Research proposals are desired that are related to small, rugged, low-power electric- and magnetic-field sensors that can be deployed on a battlefield using artillery-based delivery systems, or scattered from air or ground vehicles, or emplaced by individual soldiers. These sensors should be passive or semi-active (i.e., with no local field-generating element), and may operate at low frequencies in the quasi-static zone (or “near field”), where the electric and magnetic fields are not coupled. These sensors should be characterized by exceptionally low power, size, weight, and cost, and/or by exceptionally high sensitivity and low noise (i.e., with performance limited by the background environment). Sensor bandwidth generally falls between DC and ~1 MHz, but may be further limited for specific applications: e.g., 0.001-10 Hz for anomaly detection; 30-3000 Hz for electric-power sensing; 3-30 kHz for very low frequency (VLF) sensing.
Invincible Materials Research in support of the Sciences of Extreme Materials Competency – Closing date Nov. 19, 2027
The invincible materials portfolio focuses on the fundamental, basic and applied material science and engineering to identify novel and emerging materials, systems and technologies for use across multiple high valued platforms and systems. The portfolio seeks to expand knowledge of materials and the related science and engineering of all materials classes with respect to synthesis, processing, development of novel materials or feedstocks, methods, advanced manufacturing techniques, experimentation, high through put techniques, machine learning, characterization, and modeling and simulation. The portfolio seeks to enable the discovery, development, design and integration of emerging structural, chemical and biological protection, electronic, laser and energy, materials in traditional and extreme environments such as materials under high rate and dynamic conditions. The portfolio also seeks material science and manufacturing technologies that supports the soldier, combat vehicles, combat support vehicles and other high valued assets to enable improved performance and survivability.
Invisible Materials Research in support of the Sciences of Extreme Materials Competency – Closing date Nov. 19, 2027
The Invisible Materials Portfolio seeks to identify novel electromagnetic spectrum materials (EMS) for use in a wide range of military applications. The portfolio seeks materials with advanced capabilities to increase, decreases or alter the energy emitted, scattered or absorbed in a controlled manner.
Multimodal Synthetic Data for Machine Learning – Closing date Nov. 19, 2027
The use of artificial intelligence solutions for Army field applications will rely heavily on machine learning (ML) algorithms. Current ML algorithms need large amounts of mission-relevant training data to enable them to perform well in tasks such as object and activity recognition, and high-level decision making. Battlefield data sources can be heterogeneous, encompassing multiple sensing modalities. Present open-source data sets for training ML approaches provide inadequate representation of scenes and situations of interest to the Army, in both content and sensing modalities. There is a push to use synthetic data to make up for the paucity of real-world training data relevant to military multi-domain operations of the future. However, there are no systematic approaches for synthetic generation of data that provide any degree of assurance of improved real-world performance of the ML techniques trained on such data. The problem of effective synthetic data generation for ML raises deeper questions than that of artificially generating speech or imagery that humans find realistic.
Current Calls for Expressions of Interest
Hearing from you that you are interested in a limited submission opportunity helps us determine whether a full internal competition will be needed. The only information you typically need to provide in an expression of interest is your name and department information (and that of your team, if applicable) and your tentative project title. All applications are accepted through InfoReady.
W.M. Keck Foundation Research Program | Internal Deadline: 10/31/2023 | Sponsor Deadline: 12/11/2023
The W. M. Keck Research Program seeks to benefit humanity by supporting Medical Research and Science & Engineering projects that are distinctive and novel in their approach, question the prevailing paradigm, or have the potential to break open new territory in their field. The multi-stage application process begins with the Mines liaison submitting up to 4 Science & Engineering and 4 Medical research concepts to the Keck Foundation for a preliminary consultation. Consultations will take place in January 2024. The Keck Foundation will encourage some subset of these concepts to submit a Phase I proposal by May 1, 2024.
Limit: 8 concepts for consultation; 2 concepts for Phase I applications
Gordon & Betty Moore Foundation Moore Inventor Fellows | Internal Deadline: 10/20/2023 | Sponsor Deadline: 12/13/2023
The Moore Inventor Fellows fellowship focuses on supporting scientist-inventors at a critical prototyping stage to capture opportunities that otherwise might be missed. The foundation seeks to provide freedom and support to promising inventors with the most compelling ideas to pursue creative and disruptive innovations. The scope of this call is intentionally wide: proposed projects do not need to fall within our current funding priorities but should be broadly within the program areas of foundation interest (science, environmental conservation and patient care). Patient care inventions should resonate with the focus on improving the experience and outcomes of patients with solutions that improve clinical diagnosis.
Limit: 2
NIH Enhancing Science, Technology, EnginEering, and Math Educational Diversity (ESTEEMED) Research Education Experiences | Internal Deadline: 10/3/2023 | Sponsor Deadline: 12/17/2023
The NIH Research Education Program (R25) supports research education activities in the mission areas of the NIH. The overarching goal of this R25 program is to support educational activities that encourage individuals from diverse backgrounds, including those from groups underrepresented in the biomedical and behavioral sciences, to pursue further studies or careers in research.
Limit: 1
Andrew Carnegie Fellows Program | Internal Deadline: 9/29/2023 | Sponsor Deadline: 11/15/2023
This program will award fellowships of $200K to 30 exceptional scholars poised to impact the fields of humanities and social sciences. The focus for the near future for this fellowship is political polarization in the United States. The program asks scholars to help Americans understand how and why our society has become so polarized and what we can do to strengthen the forces of cohesion in American society. University presidents may nominate one junior and one senior scholar.
Limit: 2
Colorado School of Mines remains committed to tackling some of the most difficult challenges in earth, energy and environment, including finding solutions to groundwater contamination and lowering the risks of small-scale mining.