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Air Force Research Laboratory

Space Strategic Technology Institute (SSTI): Space Cyber-Cognitive Overmatch (SCCO)

Backs a university-led consortium with up to $25 million to build transformative cyber, AI and quantum technologies that protect and strengthen U.S. military space systems.

ClosedAir Force Research LaboratoryUnited States

The lead applicant must be a university managing a consortium of at least three universities, which receives the award and distributes at least 50% of the funds to the other institutions through subawards; industry, nonprofit and small-business collaborators are welcome but cannot lead. It runs as a two-step process โ€” a White Paper and cost estimate first, then a full proposal only for teams the Gโ€ฆ

The call wants research that fundamentally changes how military space systems sense threats, defend themselves, and operate in contested environments, not incremental advances. Technical areas include cyber threat sensing and response, cyber-hardening and supply chain security, AI and autonomy, human-machine teaming, distributed and quantum computing, cognitive electronic warfare, and digital engineering, though applicants may propose other technologies that fit DoD needs.

CycleiHow often this grant runs - e.g. annually, on a rolling basis, or a one-off call.No fixed schedule
Next deadlineiThe next date applications are due. Rolling means you can apply any time.-
Decision timeiTypical time from the deadline to the funder's decision.-
Project durationiHow long the funded work is expected to run.1โ€“60 months
Award typeiThe form of funding - grant, equity, loan, tax credit, etc.Grant
Match fundingiThe share of project costs you must cover yourself. 0% = fully funded.0%
Funding pooliThe total budget available across all awards in this round.$25M

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Guides for this application

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Open

GEOSPATIAL INTELLIGENCE PROCESSING AND EXPLOITATION (GeoPEX)

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธAFRL ยท United States

Funds geospatial-intelligence processing and exploitation work for the Air Force, through a notice that sends applicants straight to SAM.gov.

$99.9MSep'26
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Open

CHEERS Open Period 1 - All Technical Areas

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธAFRL ยท United States

Funds white papers under a standard Broad Agency Announcement inside the Air Force's CHEERS human-performance research strategy.

AerospaceDefense+2
Sep'27
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Open

CHEERS Open Period 2 - All Technical Areas

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธAFRL ยท United States

Funds white papers under a narrower experimental-purchase authority inside the Air Force's CHEERS human-performance research strategy.

Sep'27
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Open

FOUNDATIONS OF TRUSTED SYSTEMS

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธAFRL ยท United States

Funds foundational work on trusted systems for the Air Force, through a notice that carries almost nothing beyond a SAM.gov link.

$99.9MDec'28
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Open

Coordinating Austere Nodes through Virtualization and Analysis of Streams (CANVAS)

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธAFRL ยท United States

Funds coordinating disconnected field nodes and analysing their data streams, through a notice that sends applicants straight to SAM.gov.

$24.9MMay'29
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Open

Research and Development (RAD) Directed Energy (RD) University Assistance Instruments

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธAFRL ยท United States

Funds university-partnered directed-energy research, through a cooperative agreement with an unusually large ceiling and few published details.

Defense
$49MJul'29