Minerva Research Initiative - University Research | HQ003424NFOEASD02

Opportunity Information: Apply for HQ003424NFOEASD02

The Minerva Research Initiative (Minerva) - University Research grant opportunity is a Department of Defense (DoD) funded research program that supports social science research tied to questions the DoD views as strategically important for U.S. national security. The program is designed to strengthen the DoD's long-term understanding of social, political, and behavioral dynamics that can shape future security challenges. A major goal is also relationship-building: Minerva is meant to create a candid, constructive bridge between the defense community and academic social science researchers by funding university-led projects that bring rigorous scholarship to policy-relevant questions.

This competition invites multidisciplinary, cross-institutional research projects aligned with eight specific topic areas identified in the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NFO). These topics are intended to set a useful frame rather than tightly limit ideas, and applicants are encouraged to propose innovative approaches within these areas. The eight topics are: (1) Societal Cohesion in Crisis, focused on how societies hold together or fragment under shocks; (2) Societal Resilience at Multiple Scales, looking at resilience from local communities up to national or regional systems; (3) Sociotechnical Adaptation to Climate, Food, and Water Stress, addressing how social systems and technologies interact under resource and climate pressures; (4) Social Impact of Technological Change, examining how new technologies reshape behavior, institutions, and power; (5) Parasocial Relationships, Social Media, and Radicalization, exploring online influence dynamics and pathways to extremism; (6) Temporal Orientation and Strategic Considerations, considering how time horizons and perceptions of the future affect decisions and strategy; (7) Evolving Contexts of Deterrence, addressing how deterrence works in changing geopolitical and technological environments; and (8) War Termination Processes and Prospects, focused on how wars end, why they persist, and what conditions support durable termination.

The process uses a white paper stage followed by an invitation to submit full applications. Key dates listed in the announcement include: questions to topic points of contact (POCs) for white papers due by January 5, 2024; white papers due January 16, 2024 at 3:00 PM Eastern; notification of white paper evaluations on March 15, 2024; questions to topic POCs for full applications due by April 26, 2024; full applications due May 7, 2024 at 3:00 PM Eastern; selection notifications on June 13, 2024; and a tentative award date of September 14, 2024. The NFO notes these dates are estimates as of publication on Grants.gov, and applicants are directed to the full announcement (including Appendix B) for detailed topic descriptions and submission requirements.

Eligibility is broad across academia. Universities and other academic sources may apply, including DoD institutions of higher education and foreign universities. The program explicitly encourages applications from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Minority Institutions (MIs), and Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs), although no funding is reserved or set aside specifically for those categories. Projects are expected to be university-led. Nonprofit organizations and commercial entities may participate, but only as subawardees under a university-led proposal rather than as the primary applicant. Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs), including Department of Energy national laboratories, cannot receive awards directly under this NFO, though they can participate through teaming arrangements with eligible applicants if permitted under their sponsoring agreements.

Administratively, proposals must name a single Principal Investigator (PI) who serves as the administrative and technical lead, while allowing additional key personnel as justified by the work scope. The NFO highlights an important continuity requirement: awards made to a university may be terminated if the PI leaves the university or can no longer actively participate, and likewise if the university ends its relationship with the PI. In terms of funding structure, the opportunity is a discretionary grant under CFDA 12.630, administered by Washington Headquarters Services, with an award ceiling listed at $25,000,000 and an expected number of awards of about 15. The official opportunity identifier is HQ003424NFOEASD02, with the original closing date shown as May 7, 2024.

• The Washington Headquarters Services in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Minerva Research Initiative - University Research" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 12.630.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2023-12-07.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-05-07. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $25,000,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 15 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others.

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