Hearing Enhancement through ARtificially Intelligent NeurotechnoloGy (HEARING) - Proposers' Day

The Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) announced a Proposers' Day for the Hearing Enhancement through ARtificially Intelligent NeurotechnoloGy (HEARING) program, scheduled for June 8, 2026, in Arlington, Virginia in hybrid format; registration opens May 7, 2026, at 10:30 AM ET and closes June 3, 2026, at 12:00 PM ET for in-person attendance or June 5, 2026, at 12:00 PM ET for virtual participation. ARPA-H anticipates multiple awards with Other Transaction Award types; a formal Innovative Solutions Opening (ISO) will be published no later than May 7, 2026.

The HEARING program aims to develop a brain-computer interface hearing-assistive platform that engages the auditory cortex to improve speech comprehension in complex environments. The program comprises three technical areas: TA1 (minimally invasive intracortical neural devices without craniotomy), TA2 (external wearable device with 16-hour power budget and bidirectional wireless communication), and TA3 (auditory read-and-write algorithms capable of reading from and writing to the auditory cortex). ARPA-H requires inter-disciplinary teams to propose solutions addressing all technical areas.

Attendance is optional and not required for proposal submission. Optional deliverables include 3-minute lightning talks (in-person only, limited slots on first-come, first-served basis, due June 3, 2026), posters (3.75 feet by 3.75 feet), and virtual teaming profiles submitted via https://solutions.arpa-h.gov/Teaming describing technical competencies, facilities, team composition, and desired partner competencies. Questions answered during the event will be published to the program FAQ. Registration is free. Contact Dr. Calvin W. Roberts, Program Manager, at HEARING@arpa-h.gov.