# Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Minority-Serving Institutions (HBCU/MI)

**R-2A activity** of project 448 — Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Minority-Serving Institutions  
**Program element:** 0601228D8Z — Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Minority-Serving Institutions  
**Component:** Defense-Wide · **Budget Activity:** 1  
**Vintage:** President's Budget PB2027  
**Canonical URL:** https://hitchintel.com/programs/0601228D8Z/448/a0  
**Parent:** https://hitchintel.com/programs/0601228D8Z

## Summary

This activity requests $99.7M in FY2027, 100% of project 448, up 1.8% on FY2026. The R-2A exhibit describes it across FY2025–FY2027, including what the FY2027 money is planned to buy.

## What the FY2027 request buys

**FY2027 planned work.** Conduct annual merit-based competitions for HBCUs, TCUs, and MIs for basic research grants and/or equipment/ instrumentation grants that align with the National Security Strategy, the National Defense Strategy, the Secretary of War “Message to the Force” memorandum, USW(R&E) Critical Technology Areas memorandum, and Section 223 of the FY 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Section 223 of the FY 2026 NDAA requires the HBCU/MI Program to issue separate funding solicitations for HBCUs/TCUs and MIs. Continue research and education collaboration with the DoW laboratories to prepare future DoW scientists to conduct research that will match threats to capabilities. Continue to fund Centers of Excellence that conduct foundational research of critical technologies for the future deployment of emerging technology to maintain U.S. deterrence. Continue the summer internship and faculty fellowship programs to encourage interest in STEM fields and increase domestic talent at DoW. Conduct outreach activities to include webinars and one technical assistance workshop to expose HBCUs/MIs to DoW funding opportunities to conduct research to address/solve Defense science and technology challenges. Continue to implement recommendations provided by the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine in the report to Congress on defense research at HBCUs and other MIs as required by Section 262 of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for FY 2020. Continue pilot program and activities required by Section 223 of the FY 2023 NDAA to increase the capacity and capability of eligible institutions. Continue collaboration with the Air Force for the sustainment of the tactical autonomy university affiliated research center at Howard University. Expand the SciTechCONNECT portal to connect institutions of higher education to collaborative DoW S&T resources and opportunities and maintain the portal to serve as a centralized hub to demystify complex acquisition processes.

**FY2026 to FY2027 change.** The increase of $1.714 million between FY 2026 and FY 2027 reflects minor budget fluctuations.

## Before the request year

**FY2026 plans — current year.** Conduct annual merit-based competitions for HBCUs, TCUs, and MIs for basic research grants that align with the National Security Strategy, the National Defense Strategy, the Secretary of War “Message to the Force” memorandum, USW(R&E) Critical Technology Areas memorandum, and Section 223 of the FY 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Section 223 of the FY 2026 NDAA requires the HBCU/MI Program to issue separate funding solicitations for HBCUs/TCUs and MIs. Continue research and education collaboration with the DoW laboratories to prepare future DoW scientists to conduct research that will match threats to capabilities. Continue to fund Centers of Excellence that conduct foundational research of critical technologies for the future deployment of emerging technology to maintain U.S. deterrence. Continue the summer internship and faculty fellowship programs to encourage interest in STEM fields and increase domestic talent at DoW. Conduct outreach activities to include webinars and one technical assistance workshop to expose HBCUs/MIs to DoW funding opportunities to conduct research to address and solve Defense science and technology challenges. Continue to implement recommendations provided by the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine in the report to Congress on defense research at HBCUs and other MIs as required by Section 262 of the NDAA for FY 2020. Establish the pilot program and activities required by Section 223 of the FY 2023 NDAA to increase the capacity and capability of eligible institutions to achieve R1 status (very high research) on the Carnegie Classification scale. Issued the pilot program funding opportunity in February 2026. Five grant awards are planned with each award ranging up to $10 million over a five-year period. Continue collaboration with the Air Force for the sustainment of the tactical autonomy university affiliated research center at Howard University. Maintain the SciTechCONNECT portal to serve as a centralized hub to demystify complex acquisition processes and to provide a unified entry point.

**FY2025 accomplishments.** Conduct annual merit-based competition of the HBCU/MI program for basic research, and/or equipment/instrumentation. Continue research and educational collaboration with the DoD laboratories. Continue the summer internship and faculty fellowship programs. Continue Centers of Excellence in support of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (USD(R&E)) critical technology areas and the National Defense Strategy in the areas needed to expand Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) opportunities for STEM scholars. Conduct annual review of the Centers. Conduct outreach activities, to include one webinar and two technical assistance workshops to expose Historically Black Colleges and Minority-Serving Institutions (HBCU/MIs) to funding opportunities in the DoD. Continue to examine and implement recommendations provided by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) in the report to Congress on defense research at HBCUs and other MIs as required by Section 262 of the NDAA for FY 2020. Support efforts for R-2 HBCUs/MIs with high potential to elevate research activity in science and engineering disciplines critical to the national security functions of DoD and attain R-1 status on the Carnegie Classification scale. Continue collaboration with the Air Force for the sustainment of the first HBCU university affiliated research center at Howard University in tactical autonomy. Collaborate with the Office of Naval Research (ONR) on STEM, education, and workforce programs to increase the number of scientists and engineers available to DoD in critical technology areas. Team with ONR to expand fellowship programs that engage HBCU/MI faculty in DoD research, including both the 10-week summer Fellows program and the Distinguished Fellows Program supporting appointments ranging from one semester to one year. Issue two discrete funding opportunities for basic research awards and equipment awards to increase research and educational capability of HBCUs/MIs. Expand the HBCU/MI internship program to increase basic research ecosystem of additional scholars pursuing STEM disciplines important to national defense.

## Funding

| Fiscal Year | Estimate Type | Amount ($M) |
|---|---|---|
| FY2025 | Actual | 96.0 |
| FY2026 | Enacted | 98.0 |
| FY2027 | Request | 99.7 |

> Prior, current and budget year only — an R-2A activity carries no five-year plan. It sums exactly into its project in the request year and not necessarily in any other.

## Source & machine access

- **Source:** FY2027 Office of the Secretary of Defense RDT&E Budget Justification, Exhibit R-2A, PE 0601228D8Z project 448 (PB PB2027). Narrative is the government's own text.
- **No marks, no contractors at this grain** — congressional marks land on the program element and R-3 performers on the project.
- **MCP:** `mcp.hitchintel.com` — `budget_get_activity`.

*HitchAI is an independent intelligence service, not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Defense. Budget figures are requests/estimates, not obligations.*