ARL’s Army Research Office, founded in 1951 as the Army Research Office and based in Research Triangle Park, N.C., has more than 100 scientists, engineers and support staff, who manage the Army’s extramural research program.

We drive cutting-edge and disruptive scientific discoveries that will enable crucial future Army technologies and capabilities through high-risk, high pay-off research opportunities.

Our program managers competitively select and fund basic research proposals from educational institutions, nonprofit organizations and private industry to increase fundamental knowledge and understanding across key scientific disciplines related to long-term national security needs in support of ARL’s 11 Foundational Research Competencies.

The research we fund is conducted at 250 universities across the country and around the world with more than 1,100 individual researchers.

The results of these research efforts are transitioned to the Army research and development community, industry, or academia for future technological superiority of our Soldiers, Army and nation. Our research represents the most long-range Army view, with system applications often 20-30 years away.

ARO also manages the Small Business Technology Transfer Program and Historically Black Colleges and Universities/Minorities Serving Institutions Programs.