The Minerva Initiative is a Department of Defense (DoD)-sponsored, university-based social science research initiative launched by the Secretary of Defense focusing on areas of strategic importance to U.S. national security policy.
Its objectives are:
1) to develop the Department’s social science intellectual capital in order to enhance its ability to address future challenges;
2) to improve the Department’s relationship with the social science community; and
3) to support and develop basic research and expertise within the social sciences community in subject areas which may provide insight to current and future challenges.
The Minerva Initiative will bring together universities, research institutions, and individual scholars and will support interdisciplinary and cross-institutional projects addressing specific topic areas determined by the Secretary of Defense.
Minerva will fund research in these initial topic areas:
Chinese Military and Technology Studies
Iraqi and Terrorist Perspectives Projects
Religious and Ideological Studies
New Approaches to National Security, Conflict and Cooperation
