IARPA ARCADE

IARPA ARCADE is one of the FY26 topics inside the Emerging Technology Accelerator and is focused on AI-assisted circuit design for intelligence-community electronics engineering. The programme is built around an AI-driven knowledge assistant that can ingest schematics and datasheets, analyse technical documentation, and support component selection and automated circuit-design workflows. Its centre of gravity is practical engineering support, not general-purpose chat. Awards are Prototype Other Transaction Agreements under DOI-ETA-FY26-30, with white papers accepted on a rolling basis after the Q&A posting and an initial wave due 30 June 2026. The structured record puts the typical award range at $1 million to $5 million, with ETA projects generally running 12 to 24 months. The prime contractor must be US-based, while universities, nonprofits, small businesses, and other non-traditional contractors can participate. Government agencies, FFRDCs, and UARCs are excluded, and foreign participation is limited to subcontract roles inside a US team. The best fit is a group that already understands electronics design and can show a realistic path from document ingestion to usable engineering support. A strong white paper will keep the concept narrow, connect the model to a specific workflow, and explain how the system can transition into an intelligence application without depending on privileged access. The proposal should read like a focused engineering plan, not a generic AI platform pitch.

Each grant below is a distinct funding opportunity with its own eligibility, scope, and deliverables.