Minerva Research Initiative

The Minerva Research Initiative supports social science research aimed at improving our basic understanding of security, broadly defined. All supported projects are university-based and unclassified, with the intention that all work be shared widely to support thriving stable and safe communities. The goal is to improve DoD’s basic understanding of the social, cultural, behavioral, and political forces that shape regions of the world of strategic importance to the U.S.

Program & History

Launched by the Secretary of Defense in 2008, the Minerva Research Initiative is a DoD-sponsored, university-based social science research initiative that focuses on areas of strategic importance to the U.S. national security policy.

Administration

The Minerva Research Initiative has a unique relationship between Research and Policy within the DoD, being jointly administered by the Office of Basic Research and the Office of Policy at the US Department of Defense. As such, leadership across the department collaborate to identify and support basic social science research issues in need of attention and to integrate those research insights into the policy-making environment. In doing this, the leadership team closely works with the program managers within the Military Service Branches. 

Grants and Fellowships

The 2019 Minerva Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) for University Research Grants is open, The deadline for receiving White Papers has passed with invitations to submit full proposals having been sent. Full Proposals were due on September 26, 2019. Application and schedule guidance can be found within the Research Priorities page. 

The Defense Education and Civilian University Research (DECUR) Partnership 2019 FOA is open. The deadline for receiving White Papers has passed; Full Proposals will be due November 19, 2019. The DECUR FOA follows different guidelines and deadlines than the Minerva University Grants FOA, though the Research Priorities are the same.