The Department of Defense (DoD) has announced that 60 minority-serving institutions will be given awards totaling $28.5 million as part of the fiscal year (FY) 2022 DoD Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Minority-Serving Institutions (MSI) Research and Education Program.
The awards to the institutions range up to $600,000 and will support the acquisition of research and scientific equipment at 17 HBCUs, 41 MSIs, and two tribal colleges. These recipients represent 43 institutions in 20 states and Washington, D.C.
Among the areas these awards will support include biosciences, hypersonics, quantum sciences, autonomy, and robotics.
The rewards are the result of a competition by the Army Research Office, with participation from the Office of Naval Research and the Air Force Office of Scientific Research.
“These awards are crucial to increasing universities’ foundational research in support of the Department’s science and technology priorities and expanding university education programs,” said Mrs. Evelyn Kent, Director of the DoD HBCU/MSI Program and Outreach, in a statement.
“The acquisition of state-of-the-art scientific and research equipment enables universities to advance current research capabilities and develop new competencies aligned with defense priorities, all while training the next generation of diverse STEM talent and guiding them toward research careers.”
The funding opportunity announcement for the awards received 151 proposals, with $69 million in total funding requested.
