Utah AI Moonshot Program

Utah AI Moonshot Program is sponsored by Nucleus Institute (State of Utah). A competitive grant program aimed at accelerating artificial intelligence research from the laboratory into real-world applications across Utah. Priority areas include mental health, water, healthcare, autonomous systems, and emerging applications.

Utah AI Moonshot | AI Research Funding in Utah — THE NUCLEUS INSTITUTE Recordings of our August 14 and August 18 info sessions will be posted soon. Check back for answers to common questions. Recordings of our August 14 and August 18 info sessions will be posted soon.

Check back for answers to common questions. — Not the other way around. Notice: The Utah AI Moonshot NOFO was updated on 8/12/2026.

Please review the current version before applying. Funding Pro-Human AI Research to Improve Life in Utah As part of the Governor’s Pro-Human AI Initiative , the Utah AI Moonshot Program is a statewide competitive funding program supporting ambitious AI research with measurable public benefit.

Through three funding pathways, the program invests in projects that address Utah’s priorities through collaboration between higher education, industry, and government. The Utah AI Moonshot Program is funded through the Higher Education Research Funding Pilot (HERFP) . The program is administered in partnership with the Utah System of Higher Education, and the Nucleus Institute.

Utah AI Moonshot Core Tenets Projects should address challenges that matter to Utah and create lasting value for the state. Competitive proposals will leverage Utah's unique strengths while delivering outcomes that benefit Utah's communities, economy, or public institutions first. Projects will be led and submitted by a USHE Institution.

The Utah AI Moonshot supports research with the potential to create measurable economic value. Projects should demonstrate a pathway to commercialization, attract additional investment, strengthen existing industries, or improve the efficiency of public services. The Utah AI Moonshot supports AI that empowers people rather than replaces them.

Competitive projects should demonstrate how artificial intelligence enhances human expertise, expands opportunity, and improves outcomes while maintaining trust, transparency, and responsible use. Accessibility & Individual Impact AI should improve everyday life for Utahns.

Successful projects will demonstrate how their work reaches people across the state, including rural and underserved communities, while creating practical benefits beyond the research itself. Responsible AI Compliance Projects should incorporate appropriate safeguards for the responsible development and use of artificial intelligence.

This includes human-subjects approvals where applicable, along with data governance practices that align with state law and partner institution policies. TARGETED DURATION: 18-24 MONTHS As the program's flagship funding opportunity, Moonshot Awards provide substantial investment for large-scale AI initiatives with demonstrated readiness and strong potential for public benefit.

Projects should bring together academia, industry, government, and community partners to execute ambitious research with measurable economic and societal outcomes. TARGETED DURATION: 12 MONTHS Designed for projects with demonstrated promise, Pathfinder Grants enable teams to generate the technical and operational evidence necessary for larger investments.

Awards may support expanded prototype development, validation testing, user engagement, data collection, regulatory planning, and partnership development that position projects for long-term success. TARGETED DURATION: 6—9 MONTHS Spark Grants are intended to accelerate innovative AI concepts with strong potential for public impact.

Through a streamlined application process and rapid funding decisions, these awards enable teams to test new ideas, develop early prototypes, and build the technical and collaborative foundation for future investment. We especially encourage student and rural teams to apply.

MENTAL HEALTH & HUMAN FLOURISHING AI that extends Utah’s mental-health capacity, strengthens human connection, and positions Utah as a national leader in evidence-based, pro-human approaches to AI and wellbeing.

WATER, AIR & ENVIRONMENTAL INTELLIGENCE Develop AI-powered technologies that strengthen Utah's natural resources and infrastructure through smarter water management, improved air quality monitoring, advanced forecasting, precision agriculture, and resilient environmental systems. FRONTLINE HEALTH & BIO-INNOVATION Apply AI to improve healthcare delivery and advance biomedical innovation across Utah.

Projects may focus on clinical decision support, diagnostics, precision medicine, digital health, medical devices, or technologies that expand access to care while strengthening Utah's life sciences ecosystem. AUTONOMOUS SYSTEMS: SKIES, ROAD & LAND Advance autonomous technologies that address real-world challenges across Utah's unique geography and industries.

Projects may focus on uncrewed aircraft systems, intelligent transportation, robotics, public safety, infrastructure monitoring, advanced manufacturing, and space operations. Not every breakthrough fits neatly into a predefined category. Open Horizon supports bold AI ideas that align with the program's guiding principles while exploring new opportunities for innovation, discovery, and public impact.

At least one award will be made in this category. Applications will be evaluated using the criteria below. Strong proposals should demonstrate a clear alignment with the program’s objectives and provide evidence of their potential for impact.

Demonstrate the potential to produce meaningful scientific, economic, or societal outcomes through the proposed research. Connection to Utah Industries Show clear relevance to one or more of Utah's strategic industries and innovation ecosystem. Alignment with State Priorities Address challenges or opportunities that support Utah's economic development goals or public policy priorities.

Commercialization Potential Describe a credible pathway for translating research into products, services, startups, or other practical applications. Identify matching financial support or other committed resources that strengthen the proposed project. Provide meaningful opportunities for students to engage in research, innovation, or workforce development activities.

August 1, 2026 — NOFO Applications Open October 15, 2026 — Submission Deadline November 30, 2026 — Award Notifications Released December 8, 2026 — Award Ceremony at the 2026 Utah AI Summit All applicants must submit a completed Cover Page as part of their proposal. Download the standardized template below and include it with your application materials.

Download AI Moonshot Cover Sheet As part of the Governor’s Pro-Human AI Initiative , the Utah AI Moonshot Program is a statewide competitive research funding program. It is funded through the Higher Education Research Funding Pilot (HERFP) . The program is administered in partnership with the Utah System of Higher Education , and the Nucleus Institute .

Download Notification of Funding Opportunity