The US Department of Energy announced the first 278 projects under the Genesis Mission, an initiative to accelerate scientific discovery using AI. With federal funding exceeding $5 billion, the program spans nuclear energy, quantum computing, and more, marking a new era for US research.
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The U.S. Department of Energy launches the 'Genesis Plan,' with the first 278 projects selected and a total investment exceeding $5 billion, aiming to reshape the research system with AI. But only about 10% of projects will advance to the second phase; the success of this large-scale experiment remains to be seen.
On July 22, 2026, U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright announced the first 278 selected projects at the inaugural 'Genesis Plan' summit in Washington, marking the official implementation of this national initiative to advance scientific research with AI. The plan received over 5,000 applications, setting a record for the Department of Energy.
Initial funding for the first batch comes from over $250 million already committed by the DOE, while the White House announced the same day that the total federal investment for the entire plan would expand to over $5 billion. This scale makes the plan one of the largest AI for Science initiatives in the U.S. in recent years.
Of the first 278 projects, 87 are led by DOE or National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) national labs, 168 by universities, 19 by companies, and 4 by non-profit organizations. A total of 342 institutions are involved, including 16 national labs, 142 universities, 157 companies, and other research organizations, with projects covering all 50 states.
National labs undertake many core projects, with Oak Ridge, Lawrence Livermore, Argonne, Brookhaven, Los Alamos, and Sandia among the main lead institutions. Universities are the largest group by project count, with MIT, Stanford, and Princeton widely involved. On the corporate side, Google announced $40 million in support, and Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) and several fusion energy startups have joined the R&D collaboration.
Funding follows a two-phase model. The first phase lasts 9 months, with each project receiving $500,000 to $750,000; after evaluation, projects can apply for the second phase, which offers multi-year funding up to $15 million. The largest single award so far is a three-year, $60 million nuclear energy research project.
According to DOE arrangements, only about 10% of projects are expected to advance to the second phase, receiving longer-term and higher-level funding. This strategy of 'broad exploration first, then concentrated resources' aims to filter the most promising technological paths.
In terms of research directions, nuclear and fusion energy are the most concentrated areas of investment and the focus of the entire plan. Multiple projects use AI to develop fusion reactor design platforms, digital twin systems, advanced nuclear material prediction models, and intelligent operation and maintenance tools, aiming to shorten the R&D cycle for nuclear technology.
Critical minerals and rare earth supply chains also hold an important position, with research covering mineral exploration, battery recycling, and rare earth separation processes. Meanwhile, quantum computing, microelectronics, advanced materials, Earth system science, water resource prediction, grid resilience, and biotechnology also receive substantial support, forming a comprehensive layout covering basic science and engineering applications.
The 'Genesis Plan' was launched by the DOE in November 2025, aiming to accelerate scientific discovery and improve U.S. research efficiency with the support of AI, high-performance computing, and automated experiments. The plan seeks to establish a cross-departmental research system, strengthening collaborative innovation among national labs, universities, and industry.
If subsequent progress goes smoothly, this plan could become one of the largest AI for Science initiatives in the U.S. in recent years. However, its ultimate effectiveness depends on the rigor of the second-phase screening and whether projects can produce substantive scientific breakthroughs.
This report is based on DeepTech's retelling of officially published information; all data comes from that source and has not been independently verified. Expressions such as 'record-breaking' and 'largest' are source judgments, not independently verified.
The U.S. 'Genesis Plan,' with over $5 billion in investment and 278 initial projects, demonstrates a national will to reshape research with AI, but the 10% advancement rate means most projects will stop at the exploration stage, and its long-term impact remains to be seen.
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