DOE Opens $293 Million Genesis Mission Funding for AI Research Teams
March 20, 2026 · 2 min read
David Almeida
The Department of Energy announced a $293 million Request for Application on March 17 for its Genesis Mission program, inviting interdisciplinary teams to tackle over 20 national science and technology challenges using artificial intelligence.
Five Critical Research Areas, Two Funding Tiers
The Genesis Mission RFA (DE-FOA-0003612) targets advanced manufacturing, biotechnology, critical materials, nuclear energy, and quantum information science. DOE is seeking teams that can deploy novel AI models and frameworks to accelerate breakthroughs in each domain.
The funding follows a two-phase structure. Phase I awards range from $500,000 to $750,000 over a nine-month period. Phase II awards scale significantly, from $6 million to $15 million over three years. Teams may apply directly to either phase, and successful Phase I awardees will be eligible to compete for Phase II funding in future cycles.
"The Genesis Mission has caught the imagination of our scientific and engineering communities to tackle national challenges in the age of AI," said Under Secretary for Science Dario Gil.
Who Should Apply and When
Eligible applicants include DOE national laboratories, U.S. industry, and academic institutions. The program emphasizes interdisciplinary collaboration, and DOE is specifically looking for teams that combine domain expertise with AI capabilities.
Phase I applications and Phase II letters of intent are due April 28, 2026. Full Phase II applications follow on May 19, 2026. DOE will host an informational webinar on March 26 for prospective applicants — a critical opportunity to understand evaluation criteria and challenge areas before preparing a submission.
Why This Opportunity Stands Out
The Genesis Mission represents one of the largest single AI-focused research funding calls from any federal agency this year. With Phase I awards starting at $500,000 and Phase II reaching $15 million, the program opens doors for both early-stage research teams and established lab partnerships.
For researchers already working at the intersection of AI and physical sciences, the April 28 deadline leaves roughly five weeks to assemble a proposal. Grant seekers tracking federal AI funding opportunities on grantedai.com should note that this RFA rewards teams with existing AI capabilities — not those proposing to build them from scratch.
The webinar on March 26 is likely to draw significant attendance, and DOE has historically used these sessions to clarify scoring criteria. Mark the date.
For in-depth analysis and deadline tracking on federal AI research funding, visit the Granted blog.