A total of 278 projects have been chosen following what the DOE described as the largest response ever received for one of its funding opportunities.
The selected teams span all 50 US states and will focus on developing AI-enabled scientific workflows to advance research in energy, discovery science, and national security.
The Genesis Mission aims to combine advanced AI, high-performance computing, and the expertise of leading researchers to increase scientific productivity.
The selected projects will now move into the development phase, supported by specialised computing infrastructure and AI tools designed to speed up research and innovation.
US Secretary of Energy Chris Wright commented: “America has no shortage of bold ideas or talented scientists, and the response to the Genesis Mission proves that.
“The 278 projects selected today represent the very best of our nation’s scientific enterprise.
“The remarkable number of high-quality proposals we received demonstrates that America’s innovation pipeline is strong, and it points to even greater opportunities for future investment and continued expansion of the Genesis Mission portfolio.”
Record response drives nationwide research effort
The Genesis Mission Request for Applications attracted an unprecedented level of interest, resulting in a broad portfolio of projects led by national laboratories, universities, companies, and nonprofit organisations.
Of the 278 funded awards, 87 are led by DOE and National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) national laboratories, while universities are leading 168 projects. Industry will oversee 19 projects, with nonprofit organisations leading the remaining four.
In total, 342 institutions are participating, including 16 DOE and NNSA national laboratories, 142 universities, 157 companies, 13 nonprofit organisations, and 14 additional institutions.
AI to accelerate energy and scientific breakthroughs
The selected research teams will apply AI-driven scientific workflows to tackle major technical challenges across several strategic sectors.
Priority research areas include nuclear energy, commercial fusion, intelligent semiconductor design, and critical mineral extraction.
By integrating AI into research processes, the DOE aims to shorten development timelines, improve efficiency, and enhance scientific decision-making across multiple disciplines.
One of the largest investments announced under the programme is a three-year, $60m nuclear energy project.
The initiative will use AI to support the design, construction, and operation of nuclear facilities with the goal of improving safety, reducing costs, and accelerating deployment.
Access to advanced AI and computing resources
Researchers selected for the Genesis Mission will receive access to the Genesis Mission Platform, which provides AI agent frameworks, advanced AI models, industry-developed software, and high-performance computing resources available through DOE national laboratories and partner facilities.
These tools are intended to help research teams rapidly design, test, and refine scientific approaches while reducing the time needed to move from concept to discovery.
By combining AI technologies with the DOE’s research infrastructure, the Genesis Mission is intended to strengthen US leadership in science and technology while accelerating advances across energy, engineering, and national security.
