Schmidt Sciences

We envision a world where science is bold, collaborative and provides well-researched solutions for planetary challenges.
Our team seeks out researchers pursuing early-stage, high-risk hypotheses that address everything from basic-science questions to pressing problems facing the planet. We prioritize research in five focus areas: AI & Advanced Computing, Astrophysics & Space, Biosciences, Climate and Science Systems.

Within each of our focus areas, we organize scientific support through programs and projects.

Our programs address broad challenges and big-picture questions within our focus areas. We provide funding, collaboration with our staff and regular convenings among grantees. We call our primary programs virtual institutes—long-term, global collaborations that bring together scientists across disciplines to tackle societal challenges. Projects, on the other hand, are efforts our team funds that are operated outside of our organization.

Through these vehicles, we aim to:

Accelerate ground-breaking research
Support researchers using new technologies to make high-impact science possible and easier to achieve
Provide resources for prototyping, testing, and scaling of new technologies

Elevate high-risk, under-funded work
Identify scientists pursuing hypotheses that wouldn’t otherwise be funded
Share knowledge with and convene international networks to drive scientific progress

Work across traditional academic boundaries
Bring together scientists from diverse disciplines and networks to address specific challenges
Create a tight-knit network through the exchange of ideas and resources among researchers and technologists worldwide