Advancing Autonomous Science for Biological Applications RFI

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Biological Technology Office issued a Request for Information on autonomous science in biological applications, with responses due July 22, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. DARPA seeks input from the scientific and technical community on the current state of autonomous science in biological domains and investment opportunities to advance the field in service to national security and public benefit.

Respondents must address three core areas: the current state of the art and transformational enabling technologies in autonomous biomedical science; major technical, organizational, and operational bottlenecks in deploying autonomous science at scale or in new domains; and high-impact application areas where targeted investment could advance autonomous science for national interest. Respondents must cover Informatics Technologies, Physical Technologies, or both, and address at least one of five research areas: current state of the art and enabling technologies; key bottlenecks in deployment; high-impact application areas with improvement metrics; safety and security considerations in automated labs; and technologies for maximizing human-machine interaction in hybrid workflows.

Responses are limited to seven pages, 12-point font, and 1-inch margins, submitted electronically in PDF or unprotected Microsoft Word format to AutoSci-RFI@darpa.mil. This RFI is for information and program planning purposes only and does not constitute a formal solicitation; responses are voluntary, non-binding, and will not be reimbursed. Reference DARPA-SN-26-96 when submitting questions.