Disruptioneering

When addressing scientific and national security challenges, new and nascent technologies often hold the key to delivering field-ready solutions.  

Faced with urgent needs, we cannot spend years – or even months – working to capitalize on advancements in science and technology.

To facilitate the rapid development cycle we demand, performers need equally rapid funding.  

That’s where disruptioneering comes in.

Accelerating prototypes and demonstrations

Disruptioneering is the process we use to validate an emerging technology before making a larger investment in prototyping.  

Each project is called a Disruption Opportunity.

Managed by our Defense Sciences Office (DSO), Disruption Opportunities are targeted and limited-scope investments. Most of these projects are focused on small, high-risk efforts important to DSO’s mission.  

Disruption Opportunities enable DARPA to investigate the potential of high-risk science – and to do so quickly. Awards are made no more than 120 days from the date of publication.  

These highly accelerated programs are a prime example of our broad commitment to pursuing high-risk, high-payoff research in support of national security and technological surprise.

All Research Opportunities