Opportunity Information: Apply for FOA AFRL AFOSR 2021 0001
The Department of Defense, through the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR) under AFRL, announced a discretionary research grant opportunity to stand up a Center of Excellence (COE) focused on radiation effects in electronic materials, circuits, devices, and systems (FOA AFRL AFOSR 2021 0001; CFDA 12.800). The main purpose is to build a coordinated research center that can explain, at a fundamental level, how space radiation degrades performance across the full stack, from novel electronic and optoelectronic materials to device architectures, integrated circuits, and ultimately system-level behavior. This effort is motivated by the USAF Space Enterprise direction: more autonomy and decision-making pushed to space assets, with much higher on-orbit computing demands than traditional space systems, which raises the stakes for understanding radiation-driven failure modes and performance drift.
The opportunity highlights a broad set of emerging technologies that the Air Force expects to matter for future space missions, and that may introduce unfamiliar radiation interactions. These include wide- and ultrawide-bandgap semiconductors (with examples like Ga2O3 and future possibilities such as nitrides and diamond) aimed at power electronics and RF amplification for space communications; narrow-gap materials like InGaP and InGaPSb intended for next-generation mid-wavelength infrared sensing; new semiconductor alloy families (IV-IV, III-V, and II-VI) relevant to next-generation solar cells; two-dimensional materials and heterostructures such as MoS2; and devices that rely on newer physical mechanisms such as memristors, synstors, and coupled oscillators, particularly for ultra-low-power neuromorphic processing. It also calls out newer architectures like gate-all-around transistors and heavily 3-D integrated circuits, where packaging and integration complexity can lead to radiation behaviors that are not well captured by legacy models. On the computing side, the description notes interest in bio-inspired algorithms and architectures (for example, spiking deep neural networks) designed to operate in noisy environments, as well as directed-energy device concepts involving electron beams for high-power microwave generation, where electron-beam-induced damage becomes an additional reliability concern.
Across all of these areas, the COE is expected to do more than catalog vulnerabilities; it is aimed at discovering the underlying physical mechanisms that drive degradation and translating that knowledge into practical mitigation strategies. A non-negotiable element is the inclusion of single-event effects (SEE) research and associated mitigation approaches in any proposed program. Beyond experimental and theoretical understanding, the center is also expected to push results into the next generation of modeling and simulation tools, including the verification and validation work needed so those models are credible and usable for design decisions. In other words, the end goal is a pipeline from mechanism discovery to predictive models and design guidance that improve radiation tolerance without stalling adoption of new materials and architectures.
Eligibility is limited to institutions of higher education, both public/state-controlled and private universities, aligning with the COE model of a university-led team that can combine faculty expertise, student training, and collaboration with government stakeholders. The Air Force framed the process with an early engagement pathway: written questions were due by email by December 21, 2020, and a white paper (up to 10 pages plus references) was due by January 7, 2021 to the listed technical contact. The white paper was intended as a capability and alignment check rather than a formal down-select, and it was required to cover four basics: proposed team members, major technical research components and alignment to COE goals, specific activities, and plans for educating students and engaging AFRL Technology Directorates in ways that support USAF needs. Feedback on white papers was scheduled by close of business on January 31, 2021. Full proposals were required through Grants.gov by March 31, 2021 (11:59 PM EST).
The funding instrument is a grant with an award ceiling of $1,000,000, and the government anticipated making one award. Taken together, the announcement describes a single, university-centered research hub meant to connect radiation physics, materials science, device and circuit engineering, and system-level resilience, with a strong expectation that outputs will include both mitigation concepts and validated models that can be inserted into modern simulation and design workflows for future space electronics.Apply for FOA AFRL AFOSR 2021 0001
- The Department of Defense, Air Force Office of Scientific Research in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Center of Excellence (COE) Radiation Effect in Electronic Materials, Circuits, Devices, and Systems" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 12.800.
- This funding opportunity was created on Dec 01, 2020.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 31, 2021 Pre-proposal inquiries and questions must be received in writing by electronic mail not later than21 Dec 2020 at 1159 PM Eastern Standard Time (EST) to be considered. White papers must be received electronically by email to kenneth.goretta@us.af.mil by 7 Jan 2021 at 1159 PM Eastern Standard Time to be considered. White paper evaluation is meant to initially assess the capability of a proposed effort and is NOT a selection process. White papers can be up to 10 pages in length plus references. White papers should minimally articulate1.) An initial list of members of the proposed team. 2.) The main technical components of the proposed research and how it aligns with the goals of the COE. 3.) The specific proposed activities. 4.) How plans would educate students and AFRL#8217s Technology Directorates, and ultimately further the interests of the USAF. Government will respond on white paper determination before COB on 31 Jan 2021.Proposals must be received electronically through Grants.gov by 31 Mar 2021 at 1159 PM Eastern Standard Time to be considered.. (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 $1,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is this funding opportunity?
This is a discretionary research grant opportunity announced by the Department of Defense through the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR) under AFRL. It is identified as FOA AFRL AFOSR 2021 0001 with CFDA 12.800.
What is the overall goal of the award?
The goal is to stand up a university-led Center of Excellence (COE) focused on radiation effects in electronic materials, circuits, devices, and systems. The COE is expected to build coordinated research that explains, at a fundamental level, how space radiation degrades performance across the full technology stack, from materials to devices to integrated circuits and system-level behavior.
Why is the Air Force investing in this Center of Excellence now?
The effort is motivated by the USAF Space Enterprise direction toward increased autonomy and decision-making on space assets, which drives much higher on-orbit computing demands than traditional space systems. That shift raises the importance of understanding radiation-driven failure modes and performance drift in modern and emerging space electronics.
What technical areas is the COE expected to cover?
The COE is expected to address radiation effects spanning materials, device architectures, circuits, and system-level resilience. The announcement emphasizes coordinated research that connects radiation physics, materials science, device and circuit engineering, and system-level behavior.
Which emerging materials and technology families are specifically highlighted?
The opportunity highlights a broad set of emerging technologies that may introduce unfamiliar radiation interactions, including:
- Wide- and ultrawide-bandgap semiconductors (examples include Ga2O3; future possibilities such as nitrides and diamond), particularly for power electronics and RF amplification for space communications
- Narrow-gap materials such as InGaP and InGaPSb for next-generation mid-wavelength infrared sensing
- New semiconductor alloy families (IV-IV, III-V, and II-VI) relevant to next-generation solar cells
- Two-dimensional materials and heterostructures such as MoS2
What device concepts and computing approaches are mentioned as areas of interest?
The announcement calls out device concepts relying on newer physical mechanisms and architectures, including:
- Memristors, synstors, and coupled oscillators, especially for ultra-low-power neuromorphic processing
- Newer transistor and integration architectures such as gate-all-around transistors and heavily 3-D integrated circuits
- Bio-inspired algorithms and architectures (for example, spiking deep neural networks) designed to operate in noisy environments
- Directed-energy device concepts involving electron beams for high-power microwave generation, where electron-beam-induced damage is an added reliability concern
How does packaging and 3-D integration factor into the research scope?
The opportunity notes that heavily 3-D integrated circuits and complex packaging/integration can create radiation behaviors that are not well captured by legacy models, making them a focus area for mechanism understanding and improved modeling.
Is the Center expected to only identify vulnerabilities, or also propose solutions?
The COE is expected to do more than catalog vulnerabilities. It is aimed at discovering underlying physical mechanisms that drive degradation and translating that knowledge into practical mitigation strategies.
Are single-event effects (SEE) required to be included in proposed research?
Yes. Inclusion of single-event effects (SEE) research and associated mitigation approaches is described as a non-negotiable element that must be included in any proposed program.
What role do modeling and simulation play in the COE’s expected outputs?
A key expectation is that results feed into the next generation of modeling and simulation tools. This includes verification and validation work so the models are credible and usable for design decisions, enabling a pipeline from mechanism discovery to predictive models and design guidance.
What is meant by a “pipeline” from mechanism discovery to design guidance?
The end goal described is to move from fundamental understanding of radiation-induced degradation mechanisms to predictive, validated models and practical design guidance that can be used in modern simulation and design workflows to improve radiation tolerance while supporting adoption of new materials and architectures.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is limited to institutions of higher education, including both public/state-controlled and private universities. This aligns with the COE model of a university-led team.
Is this intended to be a single award or multiple awards?
The government anticipated making one award.
What is the award type and maximum funding amount?
The funding instrument is a grant, with an award ceiling of $1,000,000.
What was the early engagement process described in the announcement?
The Air Force described an early engagement pathway that included written questions and a white paper submission prior to the full proposal deadline. The white paper was positioned as a capability and alignment check.
When were written questions due, and how were they submitted?
Written questions were due by email by December 21, 2020.
What were the white paper requirements and deadline?
The white paper was due by January 7, 2021 to the listed technical contact. It could be up to 10 pages plus references.
What was the purpose of the white paper?
The white paper was intended as a capability and alignment check rather than a formal down-select.
What topics did the white paper need to cover?
The white paper was required to cover four basics:
- Proposed team members
- Major technical research components and alignment to COE goals
- Specific activities
- Plans for educating students and engaging AFRL Technology Directorates in ways that support USAF needs
When was feedback on white papers expected?
Feedback was scheduled by close of business on January 31, 2021.
When were full proposals due, and where were they submitted?
Full proposals were required to be submitted through Grants.gov by March 31, 2021 at 11:59 PM EST.
What is the intended organizational model for the COE?
The announcement describes a university-centered research hub intended to coordinate across disciplines and connect research efforts from materials and devices through circuits and system-level resilience, while also supporting student education and engagement with AFRL Technology Directorates.
How is student education addressed in this opportunity?
Proposers were expected to include plans for educating students as part of the COE approach, and to describe how student training and engagement would align with USAF needs.
How is AFRL engagement expected to be incorporated?
White papers were required to describe plans for engaging AFRL Technology Directorates in ways that support USAF needs, indicating that interaction with government stakeholders is an expected element of the COE concept.
What kinds of outcomes does the Air Force appear to be seeking from the COE?
Based on the description, the Air Force is seeking outcomes that include: fundamental explanations of radiation-driven degradation across the technology stack, practical mitigation strategies (including SEE mitigation), and validated modeling/simulation capabilities that can be used in design decisions and modern workflows for future space electronics.
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