DOE Launches $293 Million Genesis Mission to Fuse AI With Federal Science

The Department of Energy on March 17 issued a $293.76 million Request for Application under the Genesis Mission, a White House-led initiative designed to accelerate breakthroughs by merging artificial intelligence with federal scientific infrastructure.

The RFA, titled "The Genesis Mission: Transforming Science and Energy with AI" (DE-FOA-0003612), invites interdisciplinary teams to tackle more than 20 national science and technology challenges.

$15 Million Awards for AI-Driven Research Teams

Funding is structured in two phases. Phase I awards range from $500,000 to $750,000 for a nine-month sprint. Phase II awards jump to $6 million to $15 million over three years. Teams may apply directly to either phase in FY2026, and successful Phase I teams become eligible for larger Phase II funding in future cycles.

The 21 challenge areas span advanced manufacturing, biotechnology scaling, critical minerals supply security, nuclear energy, quantum information science, and AI-driven autonomous laboratories. The breadth signals DOE's intent to position AI not as a standalone research domain but as enabling infrastructure across the national lab ecosystem.

Who Can Apply — And What's Required

Applicant teams must include partners from at least two of three categories: DOE or National Nuclear Security Administration labs and user facilities, industry partners, or higher education and nonprofit research organizations. For-profit entities face mandatory cost-share requirements — 20% for basic and applied R&D, rising to 50% for demonstration and commercialization projects.

Successful teams will receive Other Transaction (OT) agreements rather than traditional grants, giving DOE more flexibility in structuring milestones and deliverables.

Critical Deadlines Approaching

Phase I applications and Phase II letters of intent are both due April 28, 2026. Full Phase II applications follow on May 19, 2026. DOE hosted an informational webinar on March 26; recording and materials are available on Grants.gov.

For researchers already working at the intersection of AI and physical sciences, this is one of the largest single funding opportunities of 2026. The compressed timeline — just six weeks from announcement to Phase I deadline — rewards teams that can assemble quickly. Track this and similar AI research funding opportunities on grantedai.com.