Genesis Mission AI R&D Funding Opportunity
Summary
The Department of Energy's Office of Science has announced a funding opportunity for the Genesis Mission, seeking applications for AI R&D projects. Awards range from $500,000 to $5,000,000, with applications closing on December 17, 2026.
What changed
The Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science, through its Office of Critical Minerals and Energy Innovation and other related offices, is soliciting applications for the Genesis Mission. This initiative aims to accelerate scientific discovery and R&D workflows by leveraging novel artificial intelligence (AI) models and frameworks. The funding opportunity supports interdisciplinary teams and covers various topic areas including advanced manufacturing, biotechnology, critical materials, nuclear fission and fusion, quantum information science, semiconductors, discovery science, and energy. The total program funding is approximately $293,760,000, with individual awards expected to range from $500,000 for Phase I small teams to $5,000,000 for Phase II large teams.
Eligible applicants are unrestricted, encouraging collaboration between academia, national laboratories, and U.S. industry. Interested parties must submit applications by December 17, 2026. The DOE plans to amend the funding opportunity announcement in the coming weeks to clarify guidelines for Phase II awards and may issue further amendments or alternative opportunities for FY27 competitions. Successful applicants will advance DOE's mission in energy, environmental, and nuclear challenges, with potential integration of developed AI models into the American Science Cloud.
What to do next
- Review Genesis Mission RFA for eligibility and topic areas.
- Prepare and submit applications by the December 17, 2026 deadline.
- Monitor for amendments to LOI and application guidelines for Phase II awards.
Source document (simplified)
The Genesis Mission: Transforming Science and Energy with AI
Agency: Office of Science
Assistance Listings: 81.049 -- Office of Science Financial Assistance Program
Last Updated: March 17, 2026 View version history on Grants.gov
Description
The DOE Office of Science (SC), Office of Critical Minerals and Energy Innovation (CMEI), Office of Environmental Management (EM), Office of Nuclear Energy (NE), Office of Electricity (OE), and Hydrocarbons and Geothermal Office (HGEO) hereby announce interest in receiving applications from interdisciplinary teams addressing the Genesis Mission National Science and Technology Challenges to accelerate scientific discovery and research and development (R&D) workflows using novel artificial intelligence (AI) models and frameworks. By achieving AI advantage, these teams will advance the DOE's mission and ensure America’s security and prosperity by addressing energy, environmental, and nuclear challenges through science and technology. Teams are encouraged to leverage the extensive scientific and data resources of the DOE/National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), the National Laboratories, U.S. industry, and academia. The resulting AI models and workflows, if successful, may be integrated into the American Science Cloud.
...
DOE is soliciting new FY26 Phase I small team and Phase II large team applications in the following topic areas: advanced manufacturing, biotechnology, critical materials, nuclear fission, nuclear fusion, quantum information science, semiconductors and microelectronics, discovery science, and energy (see specific focus areas in Section III Program Descriptions).
In addition, this RFA will remain available to allow the recipients of FY26 Phase I awards to apply for larger team Phase II awards. In a few weeks, DOE plans to amend the RFA to clarify the LOI and application guidelines for FY26 Phase II awards. In FY27, DOE plans to amend the RFA or to issue an alternative funding opportunity to update the topic and focus areas to allow a second competition of Phase I small team applications and Phase II large team applications.
Show full description
Eligibility
Eligible applicants
Miscellaneous
- Unrestricted
Additional information
Grantor contact information
Description
GenesisMissionNOFO@science.doe.gov
GenesisMissionNOFO@science.doe.gov
GenesisMissionNOFO@science.doe.gov
Documents
Download all
| File name | Description | Last updated |
| --- | --- | --- |
| DE-FOA-0003612.pdf | DE-FOA-0003612 | Mar 17, 2026 12:55 PM UTC |
| GenesisMissionPhaseIApplication_Template.xlsx | Phase I Application Template | Mar 17, 2026 01:05 PM UTC |
| GenesisMissionPhaseIILOI_Template.xlsx | Phase II LOI Template | Mar 17, 2026 01:06 PM UTC |
Link to additional information
--
Closing: December 17, 2026
Application process
This site is a work in progress. Go to www.grants.gov to apply, track application status, and subscribe to updates. View on Grants.gov
Award
$293,760,000
Program Funding
--
Expected awards
$500,000
Award Minimum
$5,000,000
Award Maximum
Funding opportunity number:
DE-FOA-0003612
Cost sharing or matching requirement:
Yes Funding instrument type:
Other
Opportunity Category:
Discretionary
Opportunity Category Explanation:
-- Category of Funding Activity:
Science technology and other research and development
Category Explanation:
--
History
Version:
2
Posted date:
March 17, 2026
Archive date:
March 17, 2027
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