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ARMY MODERNIZATION

To have the best Army in the world, �we must have the best Science.

�

ARO is always looking for answers �to the question:�

How will we ensure success in the future?

Current Abilities

Acquisition Requirements

Technology Development�(Science ≠ Technology)

Near Future�~5 years

Far Future�>20 years

ARO’s work with basic scientific research drives toward the Army’s far future capabilities �20, 30, 40 years from now.

Scientific Discovery

Cross-Cutting Competencies

Informing Future Warfighting �Concepts

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MISSION

ARL’s Mission:

Operationalizing Science for Transformational Overmatch

Army’s primary collaborative link to the �World-Wide Scientific Community

Shape Future Concepts

and inform the future operating environment

Possess, create, and apply

leading niche and cross-cutting competencies

Cultivate and optimize diverse talent in new areas

for the modernized

Army team

Disruptive Foundational Research

Leading to �U.S. Army modernization

A component of DEVCOM ARL, the Army Research Office contributes to Army modernization by focusing on �basic scientific research.

Build the Future�Create and direct scientific discoveries for revolutionary new Army capabilities

Solve Existing Problems

Drive science to develop solutions to existing Army technology needs

Accelerate

Accelerate transition of basic research

Educate

Educate and train future Army Scientists & Engineers workforce

Prepare

Create technological superiority for U.S. Forces, �and prevent adversary technological surprises

ARO’s Mission

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FY21 ARO-ADMINISTERED MISSION INSTRUMENTS

URI University Research Initiative

$64.7M

REP DOD Research & Educational Program for HBCU/MIs

ARO has administered REP on behalf of OSD since 1992. REP aims to enhance research capabilities of HBCUs and MIs and to strengthen their education programs in STEM disciplines that are relevant to the defense mission.

Under this program, qualifying institutions were able to submit proposals to compete for basic research equipment and instrumentation grants. In FY19, 59 grants totaling $23.3 million were made to 18 HBCUs, 26 MIs, and 1 Tribal College or University (TCU).

$30.4M

SBIR & STTR�Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer��Established to provide small businesses and research institutions with opportunities to participate in gov’t.-sponsored research �and development.

$>19.8M^*

UARCs University Affiliated Research Centers

�Large centers associated with the U.S. Army, ARO manages the Institutes for Collaborative Biotechnologies (ICB), Soldier Nanotechnologies (ISN), Creative Technologies (ICT)�

5 year efforts�
~$5 – 10M per year

$15.0M

HBCU/MI

Historically Black Colleges & Universities/Minority Serving Institutions�ARO Core Grants

�Matching funds support primarily single investigator research expanding and diversifying the Army research base via the HBCU/MI Community�

Topics from ARO BAA and consistent with SI funding

$1.6M

SI Single Investigator Program

Grants with one or two faculty and graduate students and/or postdocs.

~$141K/year average for 3-5 year periods
575 Universities

$100.8M

MURI Multidisciplinary University Research Initiative Program supports university teams whose research efforts intersect more than one traditional science and engineering discipline ~$1.25M per year, 3-5 year period, 7-8 new initiatives annually�

DURIP Defense University Research Instrumentation Program improves capabilities for basic research in defense S&T areas and promotes education and training of future STEM pros�

PECASE Presidential Early Career Awards for Scientists and Engineers enhance career development of early career investigators. $200K per year for a five-year research grant

* FY21 SBIR/STTR funds typically received in summer; also includes FY20 funds received and executed in FY21

10 MAY 2021

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CONNECTING WITH DEVCOM ARL - ARO

ARO Areas of Interest

ARL/ARO BAA

www.arl.army.mil/business/broad-agency-announcements

Technical POC: Name, Email, Phone

Physical �Sciences

Chemical Sciences

Life Sciences

Physics

Engineering �Sciences

Electronics

Materials Science

Mechanical Sciences

Information �Sciences

Computing Sciences

Mathematical Sciences

Network Sciences

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CRITICAL QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER WHEN PITCHING IDEAS

Is it basic research?

What’s the scientific question?
What foundational knowledge is not currently available about the workings of the universe?
Proposals focused on specific devices/components/technologies are beyond the scope of ARO’s mission.

Is it hard?

If an “old” question, why haven’t we found an answer yet?
If a “new” question, where’s the sticky part?

Why you? Why now?

What’s been done before? Why wasn’t it successful?
What’s novel about your skills/abilities/�approach that makes you think there’s a shot at an answer?
What new advance provides opportunity to make new progress?

So what? Who cares?

Where’s the risk?

What will it take?

What impact will the research make on the scientific community?
What papers will be written because of your efforts? What papers will stop being written?
What are the potential implications for the future of technology?

How confident are you that you’re asking the right question?
How will you know when you have an answer? If you find a different answer, will you still learn something?

What resources (time, money, infrastructure, personnel, partnerships) are required to pursue the research?

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ARO ___ PROGRAM: HOW TO ENGAGE

5 pages max
Provides a well-written scientific question and proposes a novel approach
Describes the level of risk associated with the effort.
Identifies the resources required to pursue the research (rough order of magnitude).
Provides a short bibliography positioning the research in the body of knowledge.
Submit any time via email.

Consult the ARO Core BAA for full details on requirements.
Expands on the discussion in the whitepaper to adequately describe the proposed effort.
Provides a reasonably self-contained description; expert reviewers should not have to heavily consult the literature or supplementary material to understand the question and the approach.
Submit via grants.gov. Preferred receipt in _____ and majority of decision points are in ____.

Proposal

Suggested initial ideas to share with PM: 3-4 ideas, 1-2 Paragraphs each, 2 pages max
2 ideas aligned with the program (see the BAA)
1 idea outside the program
1 idea characterized as �half-baked, super high-risk, �possibly “crazy”
Submit directly to PM any time via email. Feedback is relatively fast.
Do not ask “what research does ARO want me to do”

Whitepaper

Your ‘menu’ of ideas

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DEVCOM-ARL PORTFOLIO OF OUTREACH PROGRAMS

National Defense Science �and Engineering Graduate (NDSEG) Fellowship

Science, Mathematics �and Research for Transformation (SMART)

Pathways Internship Program

Pathways Recent �Graduate Program

STEM Student �Employment Program

Army Civilian Training, Education and Development Systems (ACTEDS)

HBCU/MI Design Competition

DoD Summer Internship Program

Centers of Excellence

Spelman AI/ML Initiative

DTRA Faculty Fellow Research Team Program

ARL Programs

Army Educational �Outreach Program

Undergraduate Apprenticeship Program

Undergraduate Research Apprenticeship Program

Graduate-Postdoctoral Fellowship

High School Apprenticeship Program

Gains in the Education of Mathematics & Science (GEMS)

Junior Sciences and Humanities Symposium (JSHS)

eCYBERMISSION

Army/Customer Programs

*Managed by ARO *Managed by ARL

K-12 Local Outreach Program

Summer Researcher Program

ARL/USMA Technical Symposium

ROTC Summer Program

USMA AIAD Summer Program

ORAU Research Associateship Program (RAP)

National Research Council (NRC)

Educational Partnership Agreements (EPAs)

Student Orientation; Summer Student Professional Development Series;

Summer Student Week; Summer Student Symposium

What was the edit between blue and purple?

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Summer Student Symposium – ARL Director sponsored program that showcases undergraduate and graduate student research and mentor training.

ARL/USMA Technical Symposium – Features collaborative research between ARL and USMA cadets and faculty. Opportunity for RDECOM organizational elements to participate in symposium and collaborate with USMA and ARL.

University Career Experience Program – ARL initiative that provides summer internship opportunities to undergraduate and graduate students from partner institutions and collaborative research programs. Army AEOP only supports internships for undergraduate students.

EPA – Enhances university curriculums, provides sabbatical opportunities for faculty and ARL researchers, provides research opportunities for faculty and students, and allows for equipment donations to colleges and universities. ARL has 52 EPAs including 16 w/HBCU/MI and 1w/Tribal College. RDECOM organizations can leverages these EPAs to enhance the relationships with academia.

RAP – ARL fellowship program for journeyman, senior researcher and postdoctoral fellows.

IMPACT: ARL offers a comprehensive suite of programs that provide interactive engagements with industry and academia, enhance ARL innovation via ARL’s ability to gather and transition technologies from our partners, and promote workforce refreshment via the broad range of collaborations and opportunities between ARL, industry and academia.

Delegation: Delegation of USC 2192 would enable ARL to develop ARL specific programs to enhance the capabilities of the ARL outreach program.