The Defense Department plans to distribute $155 million to academic institutions over the next five years for multidisciplinary basic research, the Pentagon announced Wednesday.

Research teams will receive the funds through the Multidisciplinary University Research Initiative, aimed at accelerating research in scientific- and engineering-related programs.

Zachary Lemnios, the assistant secretary of defense for research and engineering, said in the news release that the Pentagon hopes to open up entirely new areas of scientific inquiry with the MURI program.

The Army Research Office, the Air Force Office of Scientific Research and Office of Naval Research chose from 21 topics, 251 white papers and 78 proposals.

Sixty-three academic institutions were selected based on merit determined by a panel of experts to collaborate on the 23 research programs.

According to the Pentagon, the MURI awards will aid in sustaining support for education and training programs for students pursuing science- and engineering-related degrees.