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HCN Grants Est. 2026
No. HQ003423NFOEASD17 · Washington Headquarters Services
Open

Defense Security Cooperation University - Research Grants

grants.gov listing ↗ Full announcement (NOFO) ↗
Dealbreakers No cost share required
No audit required
“The Federal Government (DoD) anticipates funding $21,600,000 toward multiple grants and/or cooperative agreements, distributed across five fiscal years.” — From the announcement
Not reimbursement-only
“The Government intends to award research grants or cooperative agreements.” — From the announcement
Invitation only
“Based on assessment of the white papers submitted, the Grants Officer will advise applicants whether their projects were judged competitive for a DSCU award and, if so, invite the applicant to submit a full technical application for funding consideration.” — From the announcement

At a glance

The program funds unclassified, publicly accessible research on security cooperation or irregular warfare that builds evidence, theory, or data and produces lessons for practice. It is open to a broad range of researchers, including individuals, research teams, academic institutions, think tanks, FFRDCs, and certain interagency groups; specific component restrictions may apply. Young Institute awards can be up to $800,000 per year and projects must finish within 24 months, while IWC projects must finish within 12 months. The government expects to fund $21.6 million in multiple awards over five fiscal years, and cost sharing is not required. The program is not described as having a geographic restriction, but it does include component-specific focus areas and some set-aside-like eligibility differences between the Young Institute and IWC.

AI-generated summary — verify against the announcement

What it funds

  • Science and Technology and other Research and Development
  • Research & Discovery
  • Researchers & Scholars
  • Defense, National Security & Aerospace
Official description from grants.gov

The Defense Security Cooperation Agency’s (DSCA) Defense Security Cooperation University (DSCU) promotes access to and production of knowledge on security cooperation. Security cooperation refers to “all Department of Defense (DoD) interactions with foreign security establishments that build and develop allied and partner security capabilities and capacity for self-defense and multinational operations, provide the Armed Forces of the United States with access to the foreign country during peacetime or a contingency operation, and build relationships that promote specific United States security interests” (Joint Publication 3-20, Security Cooperation, 1-2; see also 10 USC § 16, “Security Cooperation”). Evidence-, theory, and data-building activities that contribute to the body of knowledge on security cooperation or irregular warfare, and that result in lessons that can be applied to practice, are the primary focus of this notice of funding opportunity (NFO). Research products sponsored through this NFO must be unclassified and publicly accessible. DSCU expects awardees to participate in conferences, seminars, focus groups and events, and to make final research products and supporting data (if applicable) easily accessible to the public, in order to enhance dissemination of research findings and facilitate application of lessons learned in areas of policy, practice, and workforce professionalization. The DSCU research grant program, conducted pursuant to 10 USC § 4001 and 10 USC § 384(g), is generally open to a broad range of researchers, although individual DSCU components may have restrictions on who may receive grants. Please see the full NFO for complete details.

Who can apply

  • Others
Geographic restriction None found in the announcement — likely nationwide