Closing the integration gap for molecules and microsystems

Advances in microsystems, biochemistry, and molecular biology have independently driven transformative innovations across fields. Together they could enable even more significant advances; however, combining these disciplines to enable precise and scalable interactions between molecules and microsystems has remained a significant challenge.

To address this challenge, DARPA announced the Microsystem Induced CAtalysis (MICA) program. MICA seeks to develop new approaches for integrating molecular catalysts with microsystems, using physical forces generated by the microsystem to influence catalytic activity. A key technical focus of MICA is enabling reaction cascades: sequences of molecular reactions that rely on multiple catalysts working together, much like a relay race where each runner (catalyst) hands off the baton (reactants) smoothly to the next. To succeed, each runner must be precisely positioned, securely anchored in their lane, and adaptable to changing track conditions—just as MICA requires precise placement and robust attachment of catalysts to microsystems, along with adaptive interfaces that can maintain performance under varying conditions.

MICA researchers will also create advanced modeling and simulation tools to predict how these integrated systems perform under dynamic conditions, enabling unprecedented design accuracy. Proposals from interested organizations are due March 20, 2025, at 1 p.m. ET. A target start date of Aug. 1, 2025, may be assumed for planning purposes.

“The potential to harness microsystems to enhance the precision and efficiency of molecular catalysts represents a paradigm shift in how we approach biological function and chemical synthesis,” said Dr. Todd Bauer, MICA program manager in DARPA’s Microsystems Technology Office. “MICA is designed to bring together molecular and microsystem engineering in ways that were previously unfeasible, paving the way for new advances in material synthesis, medical therapies, biothreat detection, and beyond.”

MICA is planned as a two-phase, 39-month program, and will include an ethical, legal, and societal implications plan that includes ongoing discussions regarding potential impacts of the technology following its development.

For more information, visit the MICA program page or the Broad Agency Announcement on SAM.gov.

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Media with inquiries should contact DARPA Public Affairs at outreach@darpa.mil.