Perrseus
DARPA is funding innovative R&D on microscale ultra-high-vacuum systems that enable compact cold-atom devices and environmentally decoupled ultra-high-Q MEMS and photonics devices.
⚑ Federal contract solicitation; not a grant. · No award ceiling stated. · Eligibility is not broadly described in the notice beyond being a DARPA solicitation; verify any procurement-specific offeror requirements in the solicitation text.
This is a pure advanced engineering/microdevices solicitation centered on cold atoms, MEMS, photonics, and ultra-high-vacuum systems. The IPPRA team’s work is social-behavioral, focused on public opinion, risk communication, education policy, and hazard response, so this would not plausibly be pursued by this team as PI-level research.
JUDGED AGAINST THE ROSTER'S PUBLICATION DOSSIER · GPT-5.4-MINI · 2026-08-21
Unit fits — one characterization, each unit's own rules
| Physical Sciences & Engineering (demo) | 90 strong | technical depth: central; funds applied research |
| Tom Love Innovation Hub | 45 partial | funds applied research; prototyping/demonstration stage; deep-tech content |
| IPPRA | 40 partial | outside portfolio topics; social/behavioral work is none; funds applied research |
Description
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is soliciting innovative proposals that enable compact cold-atom devices and environmentally-decoupled ultra-high Q microelectromechanical (MEMS) and photonics devices through microscale ultra-high-vacuum systems (µUHV).
Eligibility
Applicant restrictions (federal contract). Set-aside: . Notice type: Solicitation. Organization: DEPT OF DEFENSE / DEFENSE ADVANCED RESEARCH PROJECTS AGENCY (DARPA) / DEF ADVANCED RESEARCH PROJECTS AGCY.
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