What’s the Advanced Research Projects Agency?

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ARPA, later known as DARPA, was created by the US government in 1958 to invest in and finance projects that develop new technologies. Similar agencies were created in other federal departments, including ARPA-E and HSARPA, and ARPANET played a vital role in the development of the internet. To apply for funding, familiarize yourself with the agency’s goals and past projects on their website.

The Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA) is a US government agency created in 1958. Originally created within the Department of Defense, the agency’s goal was to invest in and finance projects that develop new technologies. More specifically, the agency’s primary goal was to enable the United States to lead the world in technological research.
The Advanced Research Projects Agency was created shortly after the launch of the Soviet satellite Sputnik. At the time, US leaders were dedicated to establishing the nation as the world’s best in technology. The Soviet Union’s launch of Sputnik sparked new enthusiasm in the pursuit of such technological advances. The agency was designed to support this goal and provide special funding opportunities for new technology-related projects.

ARPA was initially created within the Department of Defense. Since its creation, the agency’s name has been changed several times and the agency was known in late 2010 as the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). Along with this naming refinement, similar agencies were created in other federal departments. Each of these agencies has the same goal: to develop superior technology.

More recent advanced research project agencies include an agency within the Department of Energy and within the Department of Homeland Security. The Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) was first licensed in 2007 and works to provide funding to those working towards technological advances in the energy field. Funding became available through ARPA-E in 2009. The Homeland Security Advanced Research Projects Agency (HSARPA) works to support advanced technological developments in the field of homeland security.

The Department of Defense also had an additional agency, the Advanced Research Projects Agency Network (ARPANET). This agency was created by the Department of Defense’s ARPA in conjunction with a research group of scholars from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. ARPANET was a packet-switched network that played a vital role in the development of today’s Internet and computer networks around the world.

If interested in applying for funding through one of these agencies, it is important to educate yourself and familiarize yourself with the various agencies first. Investigate the primary goals of the agency you hope to receive funding from and learn about past projects that have received funding. Each agency has a website that outlines project submission guidelines, timelines, and other arrangements for applying for funding.




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