At a glance
The Department of Energy is seeking applications from interdisciplinary teams to use novel AI models and frameworks to speed scientific discovery and research and development for energy, environmental, and nuclear challenges. Phase I awards are for small teams and Phase II awards are for larger teams, with applications in areas such as advanced manufacturing, biotechnology, critical materials, nuclear fission and fusion, quantum information science, semiconductors and microelectronics, discovery science, and energy. DOE expects to use $293.76 million in prior and current fiscal year funds, with Phase I awards of $500,000 to $750,000 for 9 months and Phase II awards envisioned at 3 to 5 times the Phase I award per year for 3 years. Domestic applicants are eligible except certain 501(c)(4) nonprofits that engaged in lobbying after December 31, 1995, and multi-institutional teams are required; non-domestic entities may be proposed as subrecipients. Cost sharing is not required for basic and applied research except for for-profit entities, which must provide at least 20 percent cost share for basic and applied R&D and 50 percent for demonstration and commercial application tasks; DOE/N
What it funds
Official description from grants.gov
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.
Who can apply
- Unrestricted