Basic Research Initiatives

Abstract

Basic research is a process of exploration and discovery, yielding disruptive, non-incremental advances that can improve or radically change military capabilities, strategy, and operations, towards realizing overwhelming technology advantage against competitors. It is a mission-oriented activity that provides the Department of Defense (DoD) with a deep and broad awareness of research areas to explore and invest in. These areas span a wide range of fundamental physical sciences (e.g., chemistry, biology, materials, mathematics, computer science, social science, etc.) as well as fundamental research in engineering sciences that can catalyze the emergence of new technologies at scale (e.g., new materials or information systems). Basic research generates the critical technical knowledge that enables the ideation, design and realization of future DoD capabilities, including the exploration of new concepts of warfare. Basic research also sustains the scientific and engineering communities and creates new generations of a talented workforce that can support the DoD for the next decades. The Basic Research Initiatives Program includes programs and pilots designed to accomplish these objectives. It includes three broad projects: Basic Research Initiatives; The Minerva Research Initiative; and the Vannevar Bush Faculty Fellowship program.

Document Details

• Document Type: R2 Budgetary Justification
• Publication Date: Oct 01, 2025
• Source ID: 0601110D8Z_1_0400_PB_2025
• Change Summary Explanation: A reduction of $0.778 million in FY 2025 was applied to meet DoD overall funding reductions, which were spread to mitigate impact. Funding increase of $0.157 million in FY 2025 for Economic Assumptions.
• Service Agency Name: Office of the Secretary Of Defense

Entities

Organizations

• Office of the Secretary of Defense

Tags

Readers

• Defense Technology Research and Development.
• STEM Education