DOE Selects 278 Projects to Advance AI-Driven Scientific Discovery Under Genesis Mission
Key Takeaways
- ▸278 projects selected from the largest DOE RFA response ever, demonstrating strong enthusiasm for AI-driven science
- ▸Largest award: $60 million over three years for AI-accelerated nuclear energy research
- ▸Portfolio spans 342 institutions including 16 national labs, 142 universities, 157 companies, and 13 nonprofits across all 50 states
Summary
The U.S. Department of Energy announced the first wave of 278 projects selected under the Genesis Mission Request for Applications (RFA), a historic initiative to accelerate scientific breakthroughs through AI-enabled research workflows. The selection represents the largest response to a DOE funding opportunity in history, spanning all 50 states and drawing proposals from a nationwide coalition of researchers across government labs, universities, industry, and nonprofits.
The portfolio addresses critical national priorities in energy, discovery science, and national security, with particular emphasis on nuclear energy, critical mineral extraction, intelligent chip design, and commercial fusion. The largest single award—$60 million over three years—will fund AI-driven research to accelerate nuclear facility design and operation while reducing costs. The 278 awards involve 342 participating institutions and include support from industry partners providing advanced AI models and software frameworks.
Selected teams will access the Genesis Mission Platform, which integrates AI agent frameworks, advanced AI models, and high-performance computing resources across DOE's National Laboratories. This represents a coordinated federal effort to leverage artificial intelligence as a force multiplier for scientific productivity across the U.S. research ecosystem.
- Awardees gain access to AI frameworks, industry-provided models, and high-performance computing infrastructure
