The Department of War announced it will distribute $19.2 million to 29 university research teams across underutilized states. The funding aims to strengthen defense-related research in regions that federal programs have traditionally overlooked.
The awards mark a strategic shift to tap academic talent nationwide, addressing concerns that defense research has concentrated in coastal institutions while ignoring potential breakthroughs in America’s heartland.
Recipients span 14 states from Montana to Rhode Island. The Defense Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (DEPSCoR) selected winners from over 150 submissions.
“The Department’s technology progress relies on a network of creative and insightful academics in every state of the nation,” said Dr. David Montgomery, acting director of DoW’s Basic Research Office. He emphasized the need to “build defense research infrastructure that strategically develops and uses the vast capabilities found across the country.”
The funding is split between two categories. Twenty-seven collaborative teams will receive up to $600,000 each for three-year research projects.
Universities in Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Connecticut, Hawaii, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, and Wisconsin lead these teams. Projects must align with the Department of War priorities.
Separately, Boise State University and the University of Iowa won capacity-building grants. Each institution receives up to $1.5 million over two years to enhance its research infrastructure.
The program targets tenured and tenure-track faculty in 37 eligible states and territories. These regions have historically received minimal federal research funding compared to traditional technology hubs.
Military service experts evaluated proposals based on relevance to defense initiatives. The competition attracted over 120 white papers for research collaboration alone.
DEPSCoR represents a broader Pentagon effort to diversify its research portfolio. Officials worry that concentrating resources in established centers misses innovative approaches from unexpected sources.
The Under Secretary of War for Research and Engineering oversees the program. This office serves as the Department’s chief technology officer, championing scientific advancement across military branches.