Air Force Defense Research Sciences Conference and Workshop Support

The Air Force Defense Research Sciences Conference and Workshop Support opportunity, administered by the U.S. Department of Defense through the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR), provides partial financial support for academic and nonprofit-led conferences and workshops that align with AFOSR’s research priorities. The AFOSR manages the U.S. Air Force’s basic research investments and views conferences and workshops as vital forums for the exchange of cutting-edge scientific and technological knowledge. These events serve to disseminate the latest research findings and foster collaboration among researchers, graduate students, and professionals working in fields critical to the Air Force's technological interests. This funding opportunity is intended to facilitate gatherings that promote education, scientific knowledge transfer, and professional exchange in areas relevant to the AFOSR’s mission. It supports events that present recent research or educational findings, promote technology transfer from federally funded projects, or expose graduate students and scientists to advanced scientific developments. The conference or workshop must address topics aligned with the AFOSR’s current research areas, which are outlined in their Broad Agency Announcement on Grants.gov. Conferences must occur within scientific, technical, or professional contexts that support the Air Force's research objectives. Eligible applicants include U.S. institutions of higher education (IHEs), nonprofit organizations as defined under 2 CFR 25.345, and certain foreign public and nonprofit entities. Notably, commercial organizations are not eligible, and co-sponsorship with commercial concerns is expressly prohibited by DoD Instruction 5410.20. While the program is inclusive of minority-serving institutions such as HBCUs, Tribal Colleges, and affiliated medical centers, no specific funds are reserved for these groups. Proposals must demonstrate the scientific merit and relevance of the event and provide information on the qualifications of key personnel such as the conference chair or principal investigator. Funding is awarded through grants or cooperative agreements and is contingent on the availability of funds, alignment with AFOSR research areas, and discretion of the program officers. Awards may range from $1 to $1,000,000, with the program expecting up to 200 awards. While cost-sharing is not required, applicants must describe voluntary uncommitted cost share sources as part of their budget narrative. Proposals must be submitted at least six months before the event date, and no awards can be made for events that have already started. Awards are made on a rolling basis but are subject to internal review and competitive selection. A complete application must be submitted through Grants.gov and include several required forms: the SF 424 (R&R), a project summary, a detailed narrative outlining the conference objectives and its relevance to AFOSR's mission, budget and justification forms, and biographical sketches for key personnel. Importantly, the proposal cannot include confidential or proprietary information. All applicants must have an active SAM.gov registration and a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI). The Grants Officer is the only individual authorized to make commitments or awards on behalf of the government. The application deadline for the current cycle is March 24, 2026. However, since this is a recurring opportunity, new proposals may be submitted at any time, provided they are submitted at least six months before the proposed event date. Contact for general inquiries and submission-related assistance is available via email at [email protected]. Proposals are evaluated based on the technical merits of the proposed activity, its relevance to Air Force missions, and the qualifications of the key personnel involved. Award notifications will be distributed electronically, and final award documents will be provided via email to the recipient organization’s business office.

Include a clear budget breakdown and ensure strong relevance to AFOSR's stated research interests. Avoid confidential information.