The Department of Defense today announced awards totaling $50.1 million to 98 university researchers at historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and minority-serving institutions (MIs) for the acquisition of research and scientific equipment. The grants, which range up to $800,000 individually, will support 21 HBCUs and 49 MIs, including one tribal college, across 26 states and the District of Columbia.
This year's awards continue the DoD HBCU/MI Research and Education Program's support of transformative research in critical defense technology areas. "Investing in the research and development capacity of our academic partners remains a top priority for the Department of Defense," said Mrs. Evelyn Kent, director of the DoD HBCU/MI Program and Outreach. "Equipping universities with relevant instrumentation and other equipment is imperative for advancing novel research aligned with defense science and technology priorities while fostering innovation at the institutions. These awards help enrich the curricula offered to scholars pursuing science, technology, engineering, and mathematics degrees and support the training of the next-generation workforce."
Using a merit-based competition administered by the Army Research Office under policy and guidance from the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, the department selected the 98 winners from 152 proposals requesting $82 million in total funding. Proposals were evaluated by the Army Research Office, the Office of Naval Research, and the Air Force Office of Scientific Research. The list of awardees is available here.
DoD has a longstanding relationship with HBCUs and MIs, which it regards as strategic, if under-utilized, assets for advancing fundamental science and building the nation's STEM talent pool — critical foundations for maintaining the United States' technology advantage against pacing global competitors.
About USD(R&E)
The Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (USD(R&E)) is the Chief Technology Officer of the Department of Defense. The USD(R&E) champions research, science, technology, engineering, and innovation to maintain the U.S. military's technological advantage. Learn more at www.cto.mil or visit us on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/ousdre.