DOE Launches $293 Million 'Genesis Mission' to Deploy AI Across Science
March 31, 2026 · 2 min read
Jared Klein
The U.S. Department of Energy has opened one of the largest federal AI research funding opportunities of the year: a $293 million initiative called "The Genesis Mission: Transforming Science and Energy with AI."
The program invites interdisciplinary teams from national laboratories, universities, and private industry to apply AI models and frameworks to more than 20 national challenges spanning advanced manufacturing, biotechnology, critical materials, nuclear energy, and quantum information science.
How the Funding Is Structured
Genesis Mission operates on a two-phase model designed to let smaller teams compete before scaling:
- Phase I awards range from $500,000 to $750,000 for nine-month projects
- Phase II awards jump to $6 million to $15 million for three-year projects
- Successful Phase I teams can compete for Phase II in future cycles
- Teams may also apply directly to Phase II with a letter of intent
Phase I applications and Phase II letters of intent are due April 28, 2026. Full Phase II applications follow on May 19, 2026. The official NOFO is published as DE-FOA-0003612.
"The Genesis Mission has caught the imagination of our scientific and engineering communities," said Under Secretary for Science Darío Gil, emphasizing the program's focus on "breakthrough ideas and novel collaborations across laboratories, private sector, universities, and science philanthropies."
Who Should Apply
The program is open to DOE national labs, U.S. companies, and accredited academic institutions. The emphasis on interdisciplinary teams means applicants pairing domain expertise in energy, materials science, or biology with AI and machine learning capabilities will have the strongest positioning.
Phase I's relatively modest award size — under $1 million — and short project timeline make it accessible to smaller research groups and startups that might not otherwise compete for DOE funding. Researchers can search for AI-related grant opportunities and track deadlines on grantedai.com.
For in-depth analysis of federal AI funding trends, visit the Granted blog.