Insider Brief
- The U.S. Department of Energy has announced a $293 million Request for Application to support the Genesis Mission, inviting interdisciplinary teams to leverage AI models for addressing over 20 national challenges including quantum information science, advanced manufacturing, biotechnology, critical materials, and nuclear energy.
- Phase I awards will range from $500,000 to $750,000 for nine-month projects, while Phase II awards will range from $6 million to $15 million over three years, with applications open to teams from DOE National Laboratories, U.S. industry, and academia.
- Phase I applications and Phase II letters of intent are due April 28, 2026, with Phase II applications due May 19, 2026, and an informational webinar scheduled for March 26, 2026, under funding opportunity DE-FOA-0003612.
- Photo from Pexels by Andrea Piacquadio.
PRESS RELEASE — The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced funding to advance the Genesis Mission’s efforts to tackle the nation’s most complex science and technology challenges. This includes a $293 million Request for Application (RFA),“The Genesis Mission: Transforming Science and Energy with AI.” Through this RFA, DOE invites interdisciplinary teams to leverage novel AI models and frameworks to address over 20 national challenges spanning advanced manufacturing, biotechnology, critical materials, nuclear energy, and quantum information science.
“The Genesis Mission has caught the imagination of our scientific and engineering communities to tackle national challenges in the age of AI,” said Under Secretary for Science Darío Gil and Genesis Mission Director. “With these investments we seek breakthrough ideas and novel collaborations leveraging the scientific prowess of our National Laboratories, the private sector, universities, and science philanthropies.”
The RFA is open to interdisciplinary teams from DOE National Laboratories, U.S. industry, and academia. Phase I awards will range from $500,000 to $750,000 and will support a nine month project period. Phase II awards will range from $6 million to $15 million over a three year project period. Teams may apply directly to either phase in FY 2026, and successful Phase I teams will be eligible to compete for larger Phase II awards in future cycles.
Phase I applications and Phase II letters of intent are due April 28, 2026. Phase II applications are due May 19, 2026. DOE plans to hold an informational webinar about this RFA on March 26, 2026.
For full eligibility, application instructions, and challenge details, see the official NOFO: DE-FOA-0003612. Registration instructions and other details will be posted here.