FACT SHEET: The Energy Department is Ushering in a Golden Age of American Science

• On Thursday, October 8, 2026, the Energy Department announced new initiatives and investments at the Science: A New Golden Age Summit to strengthen American scientific leadership, accelerate innovation, and secure U.S. technological dominance for generations to come.
  • These announcements deliver on key elements of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy’s (OSTP) July 2026 Golden Age report and advance the Energy Department’s Genesis Mission.

REVITALIZING THE AMERICAN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ENTERPRISE 

• The Energy Department is accelerating scientific discovery and strengthening American innovation through new research investments and initiatives, including:
  • Investing $96 million in 67 awards through the Energy Department’s Office of Science Early Career Research Program to support the next generation of American scientific leaders. 
    • The awards will support 48 scientists at universities and 19 scientists at Energy Department National Laboratories.
  • Launching a new metascience initiative to advance the Genesis Mission’s goal of doubling the scientific productivity and impact of American research and development. 
  • Establishing a new “Golden Ticket” pilot program through the Energy Department’s Office of Science to provide reviewers with greater flexibility to support bold, high-risk research ideas that challenge conventional thinking and could unlock entirely new fields of scientific discovery. 
     

SECURING AMERICAN TECHNOLOGICAL DOMINANCE 

• The Energy Department is advancing cutting-edge technologies in robotics, autonomous science, and quantum computing to strengthen American technological leadership through the following initiatives:
  • Investing $30 million over three years in four National Laboratory-led robotics and autonomous-science testbeds to accelerate the development and deployment of advanced scientific capabilities. 
    • The testbeds will integrate embodied SI, robotics, laboratory automation, digital twins, and advanced computing to develop reusable capabilities across the Energy Department’s National Laboratories and User Facilities.
  • Identifying eight Quantum Genesis Priority Applications to guide the Quantum Genesis Mission’s efforts to develop fault-tolerant, scientifically relevant quantum computers. 
    • These priority applications will focus efforts on key scientific utility problems and help advance American leadership in quantum computing.

UNLEASHING A GOLDEN AGE OF SUPERINTELLIGENCE-ENABLED SCIENCE 

• The Energy Department is expanding Super Intelligence-enabled research, strengthening federal partnerships, and advancing scientific data capabilities through the Genesis Mission by:
  • Announcing 12 new Phase II and six Phase I Genesis Mission project awards to push the frontiers of SI-enabled scientific discovery. 
    • These awards bring the Genesis Mission’s first-year portfolio to 297 projects, advancing the use of SI to accelerate scientific breakthroughs. Learn more about the selected projects here.
  • Expanding the Genesis Mission Consortium through collaboration with the National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), and Department of War (DOW).  
    • The expanded consortium will engage external partners and mobilize industry, academic, and nonprofit capabilities to advance Genesis Mission priorities.
  • Identifying 190 priority dataset repositories across 14 federal agencies aligned with the Genesis Mission’s National Science and Technology Challenges. 
    • These repositories will lay the initial foundation for government-wide data federation with the Genesis Mission Platform, expanding access to scientific data and strengthening SI-enabled research.
       

BUILDING THE NEXT GENERATION OF AMERICAN SCIENTIFIC LEADERS

• Under the Trump Administration, the Energy Department is expanding opportunities for young Americans to pursue careers in science and technology and preparing the next generation of scientific leaders through:
  • Launching a new Genesis Mission Graduate Fellowship to prepare American scientists to lead in SI-enabled research and discovery. 
    • The fellowship will support universities in developing and demonstrating innovative four-year PhD training programs that combine expertise in SI with a scientific discipline.
    • Selected students will participate in two research experiences: one at an Energy Department National Laboratory and another in private industry.
  • Establishing the Battelle-Genesis Mission High School Fellowship to introduce young Americans to cutting-edge scientific research and SI technologies.
    • The fellowship will train 20 students in its inaugural year, developing competencies in SI, science, and engineering research through experiences at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Idaho National Laboratory (INL), or Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL).