Universities

By design, DARPA reaches for transformational change instead of incremental advances, but DARPA does not perform its engineering alchemy in isolation. It works within an innovation ecosystem that includes academic, corporate and governmental partners, with a constant focus on the Nation’s military Services, which work with DARPA to create new strategic opportunities and novel tactical options.

Universities are an integral part of the innovation ecosystem, and DARPA seeks robust engagement directly with potential university partners. DARPA's work spans the spectrum from basic research to applied research to operational applications--a range of activity that offers numerous opportunities for academic engagement.

The first step to working with DARPA is to visit the Agency’s website at www.darpa.mil to learn more about the research that DARPA's technology offices are supporting. From there, the best way to identify opportunities that bridge those priorities and your interests or expertise is to search for relevant Broad Agency Announcements (BAAs), which are DARPA’s primary means of advertising opportunities. DARPA BAAs and Requests for Proposals (RFPs) can be found on the official federal acquisition opportunities websites, sam.gov and www.grants.gov. A partial listing of DARPA opportunities can also be found at DARPA's Opportunities page. The preferred method for submitting ideas and concepts to DARPA is to respond to a BAA, SBIR topic, STTR topic, program research and development announcement (RA), or other Government-initiated solicitation or program (RFP).

DARPA often hosts Proposers Days to provide information on recently released or soon-to-be released BAAs. Proposers Days are usually held at the DARPA Conference Center in Arlington, Virginia. The purpose of these conferences is to provide information on the program, promote additional discussion and address questions from potential proposers. Some Proposers Days also allow for registration of one-on-one meetings with the relevant DARPA program manager. Proposers Days are announced on sam.gov and www.grants.gov.

The Young Faculty Award program provides additional opportunities for early career researchers in junior faculty positions to engage with DARPA and earn funding for their work.

The DARPA Innovation Fellowship is a two-year position at DARPA for early career scientists and active-duty service members. Innovation Fellows develop and manage portfolios of high-impact, exploratory efforts to identify breakthrough technologies for the Department of Defense. To learn about DARPA's Innovation Fellowship, please visit www.darpa.mil/innovationfellowship.

DARPA Risers are up-and-coming standouts in their fields, whose research is related to national security and demonstrates the potential to lead to technological surprise — the heart of DARPA's mission. The Risers program provides individuals in the early stages of their research career a unique opportunity to be recognized for their notable work and present their ideas directly to DARPA, typically in conjunction with a DARPA conference or symposium. The next opportunity to apply for the Risers program will be announced when available.

Consistent with national policy and DoD Directives, DARPA fully supports free scientific exchanges and dissemination of research results to the maximum extent possible. Please review our policy on fundamental research for more information.

To identify and mitigate undue foreign influence, as required by Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (USD(R&E)), DARPA has established a program to identify potential foreign influenced conflicts of interest or commitment.