Fiscal Year 2027 Defense University Research Instrumentation Program (DURIP)
Technical Objective
DURIP aims to improve the research capabilities of accredited U.S. institutions of higher education by providing funding for acquisition of research equipment and instrumentation. The program supports research and education in areas critical to national defense, including dual-use technologies and defense-relevant scientific disciplines.
Core Technologies
Who Should Apply
Accredited U.S. institutions of higher education (universities and colleges) with established research programs in defense-relevant fields. For-profit organizations and non-accredited institutions are ineligible.
Evaluation Criteria
- 1Alignment with national defense research priorities
- 2Quality and strength of the research program
- 3Impact of instrumentation on research capability and educational outcomes
- 4Qualifications of research faculty and students
- 5Cost reasonableness and institutional cost-share commitment
Key Dates
| Application Deadline | 2026-11-06 |
Submission Mechanics
Submit applications through the DoD grants portal (likely GRANTS.GOV or service-specific portal such as ONR APPLY for Navy-managed awards). Exact format, page limits, and proposal structure should be confirmed in the full solicitation announcement.
BD Strategic Notes
Universities with existing DoD-sponsored research programs, particularly those in engineering, materials science, physics, and cybersecurity, are well-positioned. This is a grants program distinct from SBIR/STTR contracts; emphasis is on institutional capacity-building rather than commercialization.
Watch Out For
- For-profit organizations are explicitly ineligible
- Institution must be accredited by a recognized accrediting body
- Equipment acquisitions typically must have clear research and educational use cases aligned with national defense
- Indirect costs and cost-share requirements should be verified in full solicitation