Opportunity Information: Apply for HQ003423NFOEASD13
The Minerva Research Initiative's Defense Education and Civilian University Research (DECUR) Partnership is a Department of Defense grant opportunity run through the Office of the Secretary of Defense that funds basic, security-relevant social science research conducted jointly by Professional Military Education (PME) institutions and civilian research universities. The central idea is to create durable, collaborative partnerships where civilian academics and PME faculty work side by side on fundamental research that deepens understanding of the social and cultural forces influencing U.S. strategic interests around the world. In practical terms, the opportunity is meant to connect the strengths of civilian universities (disciplinary depth, research infrastructure, and broader academic networks) with the mission-focused perspective of PME institutions (education of defense professionals and direct engagement with defense-relevant problem sets).
A key emphasis of the DECUR Partnership is alignment with the 2022 National Defense Strategy, meaning proposed projects should clearly relate to strategic priorities and future defense challenges rather than narrowly technical or purely historical questions with limited relevance to national security decision-making. Minerva, as a program, is known for supporting multidisciplinary and cross-institutional research, often drawing on multiple social science fields and encouraging collaboration across universities and other research organizations, potentially including international partners. The overall goal is to strengthen the Department's "intellectual capital" in the social sciences, improve DoD's capacity to anticipate and address emerging strategic challenges, and build stronger, more constructive bridges between the defense community and the broader social science research community.
Administratively, this is a discretionary grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number HQ003423NFOEASD13) under the Department of Defense, Washington Headquarters Services, within a science and technology and other research and development activity category (CFDA 12.630). The opportunity anticipated making around six awards, with an award ceiling of $400,000 per award. The original posting date was August 21, 2023, with an original closing date of September 13, 2023. Eligibility is listed broadly as "Others," with the expectation that applicants consult the notice of funding opportunity for the specific eligibility rules and partnership requirements, which are central to the DECUR model since proposals are intended to be collaborative efforts between PME institutions and civilian universities.
Overall, the DECUR Partnership can be understood as a targeted investment in fundamental social science: research that is not simply applied consulting for immediate operational needs, but instead builds foundational knowledge about societies, cultures, and strategic dynamics in ways that can inform education, policy, and long-term national security planning. It extends Minerva's long-running approach of sponsoring academically rigorous work on questions of strategic importance, while placing special weight on collaboration with PME educators to ensure the resulting insights and research capacity are more directly integrated into defense education and the broader defense intellectual ecosystem.Apply for HQ003423NFOEASD13
- The Department of Defense, Washington Headquarters Services in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Minerva Research Initiative’s (Minerva) Defense Education and Civilian University Research (DECUR) Partnership" 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 Aug 21, 2023.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 13, 2023. (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 $400,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 6 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the DECUR Partnership grant opportunity?
The Defense Education and Civilian University Research (DECUR) Partnership is a Department of Defense grant opportunity under the Minerva Research Initiative. It funds basic, security-relevant social science research conducted jointly by Professional Military Education (PME) institutions and civilian research universities, with the intent of building durable, collaborative research partnerships.
Which DoD organization runs this opportunity?
The opportunity is run through the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) and administered under the Department of Defense, Washington Headquarters Services.
What is the main purpose of DECUR?
The central purpose is to create long-term, side-by-side research collaborations between civilian academics and PME faculty on fundamental social science research that deepens understanding of social and cultural forces affecting U.S. strategic interests globally. The program is intended to strengthen DoD's "intellectual capital" in the social sciences and improve the Department's capacity to anticipate and address emerging strategic challenges.
What kinds of research does DECUR fund?
DECUR funds basic (fundamental) social science research that is security-relevant. The opportunity is positioned as more than short-term applied consulting; it supports academically rigorous work that builds foundational knowledge about societies, cultures, and strategic dynamics that can inform education, policy, and long-term national security planning.
How is DECUR different from purely operational or technical DoD research funding?
Based on the opportunity description, DECUR emphasizes foundational social science rather than narrowly technical work or immediate operational needs. It is designed to produce durable knowledge and research capacity that can inform defense education and longer-term strategic decision-making.
Who is expected to collaborate on a DECUR proposal?
Proposals are intended to be collaborative efforts between Professional Military Education (PME) institutions and civilian research universities. Partnership requirements are described as central to the DECUR model, and applicants are expected to consult the notice of funding opportunity for the specific rules.
Why does DECUR emphasize partnerships between civilian universities and PME institutions?
The opportunity is meant to connect the strengths of civilian universities (disciplinary depth, research infrastructure, and broader academic networks) with the mission-focused perspective of PME institutions (education of defense professionals and direct engagement with defense-relevant problem sets). The goal is to build constructive bridges between the defense community and the broader social science research community.
Does DECUR encourage multidisciplinary research?
Yes. Minerva is described as supporting multidisciplinary and cross-institutional research, often drawing on multiple social science fields and encouraging collaboration across universities and other research organizations.
Are international partners allowed or encouraged?
The description notes that Minerva often encourages collaboration across universities and other research organizations, potentially including international partners. Any specific requirements or limitations would be found in the notice of funding opportunity.
What strategic guidance should proposals align with?
A key emphasis is alignment with the 2022 National Defense Strategy. Proposed projects are expected to relate clearly to strategic priorities and future defense challenges, rather than focusing on narrowly technical topics or purely historical questions with limited relevance to national security decision-making.
Is this a discretionary grant?
Yes. The opportunity is described as a discretionary grant opportunity.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is HQ003423NFOEASD13.
What is the CFDA number and activity category listed for this opportunity?
The CFDA number is 12.630, and it is listed under a science and technology and other research and development activity category.
How many awards were anticipated?
The opportunity anticipated making around six awards.
What is the award ceiling?
The award ceiling is $400,000 per award.
When was the opportunity originally posted, and when did it close?
The original posting date was August 21, 2023, and the original closing date was September 13, 2023.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is listed broadly as "Others." Because DECUR is built around a collaborative model between PME institutions and civilian universities, applicants are expected to consult the notice of funding opportunity for the specific eligibility rules and partnership requirements.
What outcomes is the DoD trying to achieve through DECUR?
The stated goals include strengthening DoD's social science intellectual capital, improving DoD's ability to anticipate and address emerging strategic challenges, and integrating research insights more directly into defense education through close collaboration with PME educators.
Is DECUR intended to be a one-time collaboration or an ongoing relationship?
The opportunity emphasizes creating durable, collaborative partnerships, suggesting an intent to support relationships that persist beyond a single project and contribute to the broader defense intellectual ecosystem.
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