ARPA-H | HEARING - Hearing Enhancement through ARtificially Intelligent NeurotechnoloGy
Below is a brief summary. Please check the full solicitation before applying (link in resources section).
Executive Summary:
ARPA-H’s Hearing Enhancement through ARtificially Intelligent NeurotechnoloGy (HEARING) program is seeking teams capable of developing the first minimally invasive, brain-connected hearing restoration platform that can read and write auditory information directly with the brain’s auditory cortex. The program aims to move beyond traditional hearing aids and cochlear implants by creating closed-loop systems that can reduce background noise in real time, personalize hearing restoration, and restore hearing close to normal for people with mild to severe hearing loss.
This is a highly ambitious, systems-level program requiring integrated teams spanning neurotechnology, wireless power and communications, AI/ML auditory decoding, clinical audiology, neurosurgery, regulatory affairs, and device commercialization. ARPA-H explicitly requires proposals to address all three Technical Areas (TAs) and all three program phases.
Solution Summaries are due Monday, June 29, 2026, 2:00 PM ET. Full Proposals are due Friday, August 14th, 2026, 2:00 PM ET. Companies interested in leading or participating in a team should begin partner discussions immediately because the solicitation strongly emphasizes multidisciplinary integration and system-level execution.
How much funding would I receive?
The solicitation states that ARPA-H anticipates making “Multiple Other Transaction (OTs) Agreements.”
The solicitation does not specify:
Total program funding
Individual award sizes
Ceiling amounts
Floor amounts
Number of awards
Funding by Technical Area
Funding by phase
Cost sharing is “Encouraged (Optional).”
What could I use the funding for?
Funding is intended to support development of a fully integrated closed-loop hearing restoration platform across three Technical Areas:
TA1: Intracortical Device(s)
Minimally invasive brain interfaces
Recording and stimulation technologies
Wireless brain-connected devices
Cortical targeting technologies
Implant delivery systems
TA2: Dynamic Sound Modulator
Wearable hearing-aid-like devices
Wireless power transfer
Bidirectional communications
Closed-loop auditory systems
External processing hardware
TA3: Auditory Read & Write Algorithms
AI/ML auditory decoding
Neural signal interpretation
Personalized hearing restoration algorithms
Closed-loop neuroprocessing software
Auditory stimulation and modulation systems
The program also supports:
Animal studies
Human data collection
Pre-clinical validation
Regulatory engagement with FDA
First-in-human (FIH) studies
Manufacturing scale-up
Clinical protocols
System integration activities
The solicitation requires all proposals to address all three TAs and all program phases.
Are there any additional benefits I would receive?
Potential additional benefits include:
Direct engagement with ARPA-H
FDA engagement and regulatory planning support
Participation in ARPA-H performer meetings
Collaboration opportunities with multidisciplinary teams
Potential commercialization pathways
Clinical translation support
Access to a high-visibility national neurotechnology initiative
ARPA-H states it is uniquely positioned to:
Convene multidisciplinary teams
Set aggressive system-level milestones
Provide commercialization support
Provide regulatory support
The solicitation also encourages:
Open or permissive licensing for interoperability components
Shared data standards
Shared benchmarking tools
Shared reference datasets
What is the timeline to apply and when would I receive funding?
Key dates are:
Proposers’ Day: Monday, June 8, 2026
Questions & Answers (Q&A) due date: Monday, June 15th, 2026, 5:00 PM ET
Solution Summaries due date: Monday, June 29, 2026, 2:00 PM ET
Full Proposals due date: Friday, August 14th, 2026, 2:00 PM ET
The HEARING program is structured as a 4.5-year effort consisting of:
Phase 1: Research & Development (18 months)
Phase 2: Pre-Clinical (24 months)
Phase 3: Clinical / First-in-Human Studies (12 months)
The solicitation does not specify:
Award announcement dates
Contract negotiation timelines
Expected project start dates
Payment schedules
Where does this funding come from?
This funding comes from:
Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H)
Health Science Futures (HSF) Office
Program title:
Hearing Enhancement through ARtificially Intelligent NeurotechnoloGy (HEARING)
Solicitation number:
ARPA-H-SOL-26-154
Announcement type:
Innovative Solutions Opening (ISO)
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible proposers include:
Universities
Non-profit organizations
Small businesses
Other than small businesses
The solicitation states:
“All responsible sources capable of satisfying the Government’s needs may submit a proposal to this ISO.”
Additional eligibility requirements and restrictions include:
Proposals must address all three Technical Areas and all program phases
Proposals must be submitted under a single prime awardee
Teams must include interdisciplinary expertise
Teams must include representative end-user, clinical, and regulatory expertise
Proposers may submit a maximum of:
One (1) proposal as prime proposer
Two (2) proposals as sub proposer
SAM.gov registration is required
Non-U.S. entities:
May participate subject to applicable regulations and restrictions
ARPA-H will prioritize work conducted in the United States
Ineligible entities include:
Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs) as prime or sub performers, unless specifically approved
Government entities and federal employees as performers
Organizations with unmitigable organizational conflicts of interest
Certain foreign entities identified under applicable federal statutes
What companies and projects are likely to win?
The strongest proposals will likely include:
Fully integrated multidisciplinary teams
Existing expertise in neurotechnology and BCIs
Strong preliminary data
Demonstrated ability to execute complex hardware/software integration
FDA and clinical strategy experience
Real-world hearing restoration validation plans
Commercialization pathways
Human data collection capabilities
Experience with wireless implantable systems
AI/ML auditory decoding expertise
ARPA-H explicitly states that proposals should:
Be innovative and feasible
Be supported by preliminary evidence
Address major technical risks
Include clear mitigation strategies
Demonstrate commercialization potential
Consider end-user experience and accessibility
Improve speech-in-noise outcomes
Support real-world usability
Projects that are likely to be noncompetitive include:
Incremental improvements to existing hearing aids
Solutions addressing only one TA
Programs lacking system integration capability
Solutions requiring craniotomy or craniectomy for the final TA1 device
Technologies without sufficient preliminary evidence
Systems with cumbersome form factors
Are there any restrictions I should know about?
Yes. Key restrictions include:
Technical restrictions:
Proposals must address all TAs and all phases
Final TA1 devices cannot require surgical skull access (e.g., craniotomy or craniectomy)
Implanted batteries subdurally or deeper into the brain are out of scope
Solutions cannot rely on cumbersome form factors
Solutions functioning only in controlled environments may be deemed non-responsive
Administrative restrictions:
Solution Summary submission is required before submitting a Full Proposal
Submissions must be in English
Submission must occur through the ARPA-H Solution Submission Portal
SAM.gov registration is required
Program restrictions:
FFRDCs and Government entities are generally prohibited from participating as performers
Current ARPA-H support contractors may be ineligible due to OCI restrictions
Certain foreign entities are prohibited
Regulatory requirements:
FDA engagement is expected
IND/IDE approvals or equivalent permissions are required before Phase 3
Human subject research approvals are required where applicable
The solicitation also notes that ARPA-H may impose publication restrictions for projects involving sensitive information.
How long will it take me to prepare an application?
This will likely require a substantial proposal effort.
The solicitation requires:
A single integrated proposal
Coverage of all three Technical Areas
Coverage of all three phases
Detailed technical milestones
Regulatory planning
Clinical planning
Manufacturing planning
Animal study plans
Human data collection strategies
System integration plans
Commercialization considerations
Cost proposals
Extensive interdisciplinary teaming
Most teams will likely need:
Multiple institutional partners
Clinical collaborators
Regulatory consultants
Neurotechnology expertise
AI/ML expertise
Hardware and firmware engineering support
Program integration leadership
Teams without existing partnerships and preliminary work may face compressed timelines before the:
Solution Summaries due date: Monday, June 29, 2026, 2:00 PM ET
Full Proposals due date: Friday, August 14th, 2026, 2:00 PM ET
How can BW&CO help?
BW&CO can support:
Go/no-go evaluation
Teaming strategy and partner identification
Technical narrative development
System integration positioning
ARPA-H proposal strategy
Workplan and milestone development
Commercialization positioning
Regulatory strategy framing
Competitive differentiation
Budget development support
Full proposal writing and coordination
Submission management
For HEARING specifically, BW&CO can also help teams:
Translate highly technical neurotechnology concepts into ARPA-H-ready narratives
Align deliverables with program metrics
Structure multidisciplinary proposals across all three TAs
Position preliminary data effectively
Build compelling transition and clinical translation strategies
