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"DOE SBIR/STTR FY2026 Phase I Genesis Mission Opportunity for AI-Driven Autonomous Laboratories, Materials Design, Biotechnology and AI for Quantum" is currently closed and not accepting applications.
DOE opened the FY2026 Genesis Mission SBIR/STTR Phase I round on 22 July 2026, and it is the small-business on-ramp into what has become a multi-billion-dollar federal AI-for-science programme. Four Phase I topic areas are on offer: scaling the biotechnology revolution; AI for quantum computing and networking; designing materials with predictable functionality; and AI-driven autonomous laboratories.
The autonomous laboratories topic is the most directly robotics-and-embodied-AI relevant, centring on integrating AI into experimental workflows to accelerate discovery, improve repeatability and generate richer data, with named areas of interest including advanced robotics, AI for network operations, diagnostics, remote handling and neuromorphic-computing circuit primitives.
The process differs from a standard SBIR and this is the thing most applicants get wrong: DOE is running a pitch-first model. A short pitch application is submitted by the 10 September 2026 2:00 PM ET deadline, and only companies invited after pitch review may submit a full application.
That inverts the usual effort curve - the pitch is the competitive event, and a full technical volume written in advance is wasted unless the pitch lands. Phase I requests are capped at USD 250,000, or USD 256,500 with Technical and Business Assistance, with roughly 40 awards expected from about USD 10,000,000.
The strategic case rests on what follows: a USD 147,000,000 Phase II pool and as much as USD 44,000,000 in cumulative lifecycle funding sit behind these awards, so Phase I should be scoped as the technical de-risking step that makes a Phase II proposal credible rather than as a standalone project.
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Or search similar grants →According to the current listing, eligibility includes: Applicants must be U.S. small business concerns meeting SBA size and ownership requirements for the SBIR and STTR programs - generally fewer than 500 employees and more than 50 percent U.S.-owned and controlled, with the principal investigator primarily employed by the small business for SBIR awards. STTR awards additionally require a formal cooperative arrangement with a U.S. research institution, with prescribed minimum work allocations between the small business and the research partner. Four Phase I topic areas are available: scaling the biotechnology revolution; AI for quantum computing and networking; designing materials with predictable functionality; and AI-driven autonomous laboratories, the last covering integration of AI into experimental workflows, advanced robotics, AI for network operations, diagnostics, remote handling and neuromorphic-computing circuit primitives. The application process is pitch-first: a short pitch application must be submitted no later than 10 September 2026 at 2:00 PM ET, and only companies invited following pitch review may submit a full application. Total funding requested in a Phase I full application must not exceed USD 250,000, or USD 256,500 where Technical and Business Assistance is requested. DOE anticipates approximately 40 Phase I awards totalling approximately USD 10,000,000, with as much as USD 44,000,000 in cumulative funding available over the projects' lifecycles, and a separate USD 147,000,000 Phase II pool. The opportunity opened 22 July 2026. Applicants should register in the DOE SBIR/STTR portal and SAM.gov well in advance and confirm the pitch deadline, topic descriptions and award terms in the official DOE funding opportunity announcement. Confirm the full requirements in the official notice before applying.
The current listing shows total funding requested by a small business concern in a Phase I full application must not exceed USD 250,000, or USD 256,500 if the proposal includes a request for Technical and Business Assistance (TABA). amount_min is set to 250,000 and amount_max to 256,500 to reflect that TABA uplift. DOE anticipates approximately 40 Phase I awards totalling about USD 10,000,000, with as much as USD 44,000,000 in cumulative funding available across the projects' lifecycles and a separate USD 147,000,000 Phase II pool. The economics only make sense if you are planning for Phase II - Phase I at USD 250,000 is a qualifying round, not the prize. Verify award ceilings, matching requirements, and allowable costs in the official notice.
The published deadline was September 10, 2026, which has passed. Check the official notice for any future application windows before investing time in a proposal.
DOE SBIR/STTR FY2026 Phase I Genesis Mission Opportunity for AI-Driven Autonomous Laboratories, Materials Design, Biotechnology and AI for Quantum is funded by U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Office of Science, Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR) Programs. Verify program details on the funder's official page before applying.
Start from the official opportunity page linked in this listing — it carries the sponsor's submission instructions.
Violence Against Women Discretionary Grants for Indian Tribal Governments is sponsored by Department of Justice. To increase tribal capacity to respond to violent crimes against Indian women, and to develop and strengthen victim services in cases involving violent crimes against Indian women. This listing is currently active. Program number: 16.587. Last updated on 2024-11-26.
The NSF CISE Future Computing Research (Future CoRe) program supports research in computing and communication foundations, intelligent systems, and network systems. The program funds innovative research that advances the frontiers of computing including artificial intelligence, machine learning, computer vision, natural language processing, and robotics. This is one of NSF's largest computing research programs with $280 million in total budget. Projects can address fundamental computing challenges, novel AI architectures, scalable intelligent systems, and next-generation network infrastructure.
The Department of Energy attached its small-business program to the Genesis Mission on July 22, 2026 — opening a $10 million Phase I opportunity across four AI-for-science topic areas closing September 10, plus roughly $147 million in Phase II funding for prior awardees. Here is what the four topics fund, how the redesigned 'faster, simpler' program changes the math for founders, and how to move on a tight window.
Read articleOn July 22, 2026, the Department of Energy opened the first Phase I SBIR/STTR release tied to its Genesis Mission — roughly 40 awards across biotechnology, AI-for-quantum, predictable-materials design, and autonomous laboratories — alongside about $147M in FY25 Phase II funding. Here is what each topic area actually wants, who is eligible, how this connects to the $5B Genesis Mission, and how a small business should position before the broader fall solicitation.
Read articleThe Small Business Innovation and Economic Security Act of 2026 saved the programs after a six-month lapse, but it also added $30M strategic-breakthrough awards, per-company proposal caps, and mandatory national-security screening. Here is what changed across all eleven SBIR agencies — and what it means for your next proposal.
Read article