DARPA Multi X Office (MXO)

DARPA’s Multi X Office sits inside the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency and was established in May 2026. The office combines work previously housed in the Microsystems Technology Office and focuses on quantum computing, complex inorganic materials, and multi-domain technology. Its public posture is broad in ambition but narrow in topic, which is typical of DARPA office launches. The mechanism is an Other Transaction research and prototype pathway. The office-wide broad agency announcement went live on 20 May 2026, and the current flagship effort is the Quantum Benchmarking Initiative, which asks whether a utility-scale fault-tolerant quantum computer can be built by 2033. Eligible performers include companies, universities, nonprofits, and research organizations, while individuals are excluded. The fit is strongest for teams that can translate frontier science into a staged demonstration plan, especially where system-level verification matters. QBI uses a three-step progression from concept description to R&D plans and prototypes, then to government verification. Applicants should expect DARPA-level scrutiny on technical novelty, evidence of feasibility, and the path to a measurable system outcome.

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