The Microsystems Technology Office (MTO) at DARPA regularly publishes BAAs requesting responses to specific program topics. This announcement seeks revolutionary research ideas for topics not addressed by ongoing MTO programs or other published BAA solicitations.
Since its inception in 1991, MTO has helped create and prevent strategic surprise through investments in compact microelectronic components such as microprocessors, microelectromechanical systems (MEMS), and photonic devices. MTO’s revolutionary work applying advanced capabilities in areas such as wide-band gap materials, phased array radars, high-energy lasers, and infrared imaging have helped the United States establish and maintain technological superiority for more than two decades.
MTO seeks to develop high-risk, high-reward technologies that continue DARPA’s mission of creating and preventing strategic surprise, help to secure the Department of Defense’s (DoD) technological superiority, and address the complex threats facing U.S. national security. Proposed research should investigate innovative approaches that enable revolutionary advances in science, devices, or systems. Specifically excluded is research that primarily results in evolutionary improvements to the existing state of practice.
Deadlines:
o Abstract Due Date: Abstracts may be submitted on a rolling basis until 1:00 p.m. on August 9, 2025
o Proposal Due Date: Proposals may be submitted on a rolling basis until 1:00 p.m. on October 9, 2025
Research areas of current interest to MTO include, but are not limited to, the following topics:
Quantum circuits
Interconnect technologies for transferring quantum states between qubit platforms
Generalizable improvements for processing chain for all types of quantum sensors
High density low loss mixed signal transfer between room and quantum temperatures
Biological circuits
High throughput molecular readers for full spectrum sequencing
3-dimensional bio-templated self-assembly of microsystems
Highly-parallel DNA writing platforms for long DNA writes for genome-scale
complexity with low error
Photonic circuits
Applications for purely photonic circuits not realizable in electronic circuits
Chip scale photonics for ultralow noise microwave sources
Tunable chip scale ultrafast (<10 ps) lasers
Fiber-inspired ultralow loss integrated photonics
Manufacturing Ecosystem
Litho- and etch-free direct nanoscale semiconductor manufacturing
Low-loss high permeability/permittivity materials
High density cryogenic-to-room-temperature interconnects
Atomically precise, multi-chemistry molecular manufacturing technologies
Energy reclamation from low-grade waste heat
Reconfigurable multiscale manufacturing for onshore manufacturing
Dual Use by Design
All-weather long distance high bandwidth communications
Commercially relevant tool development challenge problems
Conformal and malleable batteries
Design and assembly of complex microsystems in supply-chain-free
environments
Reconfigurable additive manufacturing for multiple classes of materials
Context aware imaging