The VBFF program is sponsored by the Basic Research Office, Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (USD (R)). VBFF supports innovative basic research within academia, as well as opportunities intended to develop the next generation of scientists and engineers for the defense workforce.The Office of Naval Research (ONR) manages the VBFF program for USD (R). To accomplish this task, ONR is soliciting proposals for the VBFF program through this FOA. This FOA seeks distinguished researchers for the purpose of conducting innovative basic research in areas of interest to the DoD and fostering long-term relationships between the VBFF Fellows and the DoD.VBFF is oriented towards bold and ambitious blue sky research that may lead to extraordinary outcomes such as revolutionizing entire disciplines, creating entirely new fields, or disrupting accepted theories and perspectives.The objectives of the program are to:Support unclassified basic scientific and engineering research that could be the foundation for future revolutionary new capabilities for DoD.Educate and train student and post-doctoral researchers for the defense workforce.Foster long-term relationships between university researchers and the DoD.Familiarize university researchers and their students with DoDs current and projected future challenges.Increase the number of talented technical experts that DoD can call upon.Please see full text announcement for more details.