AI Safety Science Program is sponsored by Schmidt Sciences. This program funds technical research to improve understanding, prediction, and control of risks from frontier AI systems, including misalignment and oversight mechanisms. While broad, it supports foundational science critical to understanding the safety properties of AI systems, which can be relevant to workplace safety applications.

Schmidt Sciences AI Safety Grant (Apply Now) | AI Safety Directory Schmidt Sciences AI Safety Last updated : April 3, 2026 Schmidt Sciences, the philanthropic initiative founded by Eric Schmidt, funds AI safety research as part of its broader technology and science portfolio. Grants support work on AI evaluation, safe deployment practices, and technical safety research.

The program emphasizes practical safety measures for near-term AI systems while also investing in longer-term alignment research. evaluation secure deployment responsible ai monitoring Schmidt Sciences (formerly Schmidt Futures) supports AI safety research as part of its mission to advance society through technology and scientific discovery.

Founded by Eric and Wendy Schmidt, the organization provides grants, fellowships, and programmatic support to researchers and institutions working on ensuring that advanced AI systems are safe, reliable, and beneficial.

Schmidt Sciences brings substantial resources and a tech-industry perspective to AI safety funding, complementing philanthropic and government funders with its focus on practical, engineering-oriented approaches to safety challenges. The organization's AI safety funding encompasses multiple programs and mechanisms.

These include direct research grants to academic labs and research organizations, fellowship programs for individual researchers, support for AI safety infrastructure and tools, and funding for convening activities that bring together researchers from different institutions.

Schmidt Sciences has supported work on interpretability, robustness, alignment evaluation, AI governance, and the development of safety standards and best practices for AI development. Schmidt Sciences is distinguished by its connections to the technology industry and its emphasis on bridging the gap between AI safety research and practical AI development.

The organization values research that can be implemented by AI developers and that produces tools, benchmarks, and frameworks with real-world applicability. Grant amounts vary widely, from relatively modest support for individual researchers to multi-million-dollar investments in research programs and institutions.

For direct grants, researchers can submit expressions of interest describing their proposed research, its connection to AI safety, and the team's qualifications. Program officers review submissions and may invite full proposals from promising candidates. The process is typically less formal than government grant applications but more structured than some philanthropic funders.

Proposals should include a clear description of the research plan, timeline, budget, and expected outcomes. Fellowship programs have defined application cycles and more structured application processes. These typically require a CV, research statement, letters of recommendation, and sometimes a recorded presentation or interview.

Fellowship programs are advertised through academic channels, AI safety community networks, and the Schmidt Sciences website. Applicants should pay attention to specific eligibility requirements and deadlines for each program. What Makes a Strong Application Schmidt Sciences values research proposals that combine scientific rigor with practical applicability.

The strongest applications articulate not only interesting research questions but also a clear path from research results to real-world impact on AI safety. Proposals that describe how their outputs could be adopted by AI developers, incorporated into safety evaluations, or used to inform governance frameworks are particularly competitive.

The organization favors researchers who demonstrate both deep technical expertise and an understanding of how their work fits into the broader AI safety ecosystem. Proposals should show awareness of the current state of the art, identify specific gaps or limitations, and explain how the proposed work addresses them.

A track record of high-impact research, including publications in top venues, widely-used open-source tools, or influential policy contributions, strengthens an application. Schmidt Sciences also values interdisciplinary approaches and team diversity.

Proposals that bring together researchers from different fields (such as ML, formal methods, human-computer interaction, or social science) to address safety challenges from multiple angles are compelling. The organization is particularly interested in supporting researchers from diverse backgrounds and institutions, including those outside of the traditional AI safety research hubs.

Demonstrating a clear plan for communicating results to both the research community and practitioners adds value. Frequently Asked Questions How much funding does Schmidt Sciences typically provide for AI safety research? Grant amounts vary widely depending on the program and proposal scope.

Individual researcher grants and fellowships typically range from $50,000 to $300,000 per year. Larger programmatic grants to research groups or institutions can reach $1 million to $5 million or more over multiple years. Schmidt Sciences evaluates each proposal on its merits and adjusts funding levels to match the scope and potential impact of the proposed work.

The organization is willing to make both modest and substantial investments depending on the opportunity. Who is eligible for Schmidt Sciences AI safety funding? Eligibility varies by program, but Schmidt Sciences generally funds academic researchers, nonprofit research organizations, and individual scientists and engineers.

Some programs are open to industry researchers or for-profit companies working on safety tools and infrastructure. Fellowship programs may have specific eligibility criteria regarding career stage, nationality, or institutional affiliation. There are no blanket restrictions, and the organization evaluates applicants based on the quality and potential impact of their proposed work.

International researchers are generally eligible. How does the review and decision process work at Schmidt Sciences? The review process varies by funding mechanism.

For direct grants, program officers with technical expertise in AI safety evaluate proposals, often consulting with external reviewers for larger grants. The process typically takes two to four months from initial inquiry to funding decision. Fellowship programs have defined review timelines aligned with their application cycles.

Schmidt Sciences may request additional information, schedule calls or meetings with applicants, or invite revised proposals during the review process. The organization aims to be transparent about timelines and communicative with applicants throughout the process. Open Philanthropy AI Safety Research Grants Major funder of AI safety research supporting alignment, governance, and technical safety work globally.

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