On May 3, DoD announced awards totaling $61.7 million to 82 university researchers under the Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 DoD Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Minority-Serving Institutions (HBCU/MSI) Research and Education Program. Individual awards of up to $800,000 will support research projects in defense priority areas at 50 institutions, including 12 HBCUs and 38 MSIs across 18 states and the District of Columbia.
The awardees will conduct four-year research projects in scientific disciplines of critical importance to DoD, spanning advanced computing, biosciences, quantum sciences, renewable energy generation and storage, and trusted artificial intelligence and autonomy. Award funding over the four-year project period is subject to satisfactory research progress and the availability of funds.
"Our nation's HBCUs and MSIs are at the forefront of innovation. This year's awards continue to support transformative research that enhances our ability to respond to threats and remain technologically superior," said Evelyn Kent, director of the DoD HBCU/MSI Program and Outreach.
"By supporting HBCUs and MSIs, we are cultivating a research enterprise that broadens idea sharing while expanding the pool of reliable science, technology, engineering, and mathematic professionals to meet both our mission and our workforce objectives."
The awards are the result of a merit competition administered by the Army Research Office under policy and guidance from the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, with participation from the Office of Naval Research and the Air Force Office of Scientific Research. The FY 2023 funding opportunity announcement received 130 proposals requesting $98 million in total. Proposals were evaluated by the three military Service research offices, and the most meritorious were selected for awards.
DoD has a longstanding relationship with HBCUs/MSIs, whose contributions to the defense research enterprise have helped strengthen the Department's fundamental advancements in priority scientific areas. The list of FY 2023 awardees is available here.