Defense University Research Instrumentation Program by DoW
Opportunity Overview The Department of War (DoW) is accepting proposals for the Fiscal Year 2027 Defense University Research Instrumentation Program (DURIP), with individual awards ranging from $50,000 to $3,000,000. The program funds the purchase of research equipment and instrumentation for accredited U.S. institutions of higher education. The goal is straightforward: strengthen the country's research base in fields that matter to national defense, and train the next generation of scientists and engineers in those areas. DURIP is a long-running federal program, historically managed by the Army, Navy, and Air Force research offices, that funnels money directly into university labs. Unlike research grants that pay for personnel or operating costs, DURIP money is specifically for hardware. Think electron microscopes, supercomputing clusters, test chambers, fabrication tools, or specialized sensors. The equipment must support research and education in science, mathematics, or engineering disciplines that align with defense priorities. The Department of War is the federal agency responsible for the nation's military forces and defense research enterprise. It oversees a vast network of laboratories, research centers, and university partnerships that develop technologies ranging from materials science to artificial intelligence. Through programs like DURIP, the department keeps American universities at the leading edge of the fields that underpin military capability. For a university, winning a DURIP award means a lab gets a major piece of equipment it could not otherwise afford. The program is competitive, and proposals are judged on how well the requested instrumentation will advance both research and student training. For-profit institutions are excluded, but University Affiliated Research Centers (UARCs) are eligible to participate. Benefits - Award amounts range from $50,000 to $3,000,000 per proposal - Funds cover the acquisition of research equipment and instrumentation - Equipment supports both research activities and education of scientists and engineers - Awards are made directly to accredited U.S. institutions of higher education Eligibility - Open to accredited U.S. institutions of higher education - Institution must offer degree-granting programs in science, mathematics, and/or engineering - For-profit educational institutions are not eligible - University Affiliated Research Centers (UARCs) are eligible to participate Required Documents - Proposal describing the equipment or instrumentation to be purchased - Justification linking the equipment to research and educational goals in defense-relevant fields - Documentation of the institution's accredited status How to Apply 1. Prepare a proposal that identifies the specific equipment needed and explains how it will support defense-related research and education. 2. Submit the proposal through the Department of War's designated application system for the FY2027 DURIP competition. 3. Click the Apply button below to submit your application.