Schmidt Sciences, the successor to many of the philanthropic initiatives previously housed under Schmidt Futures, operates on a proactive funding model that significantly differs from traditional grant-making organizations. For organizations or research groups seeking AI conference sponsorships or project grants, it is critical to understand that the organization does not accept unsolicited proposals. Instead, funding is directed through specific Requests for Proposals (RFPs) and strategic partnerships initiated by the organization itself.

The Shift from Schmidt Futures to Schmidt Sciences

The philanthropic landscape established by Eric and Wendy Schmidt underwent a major structural refinement in early 2024. While Schmidt Futures was known for a broad array of talent-matching and early-stage social impact projects, Schmidt Sciences has emerged as a specialized entity focused on high-stakes scientific breakthroughs. This transition marks a pivot toward deep-tech and fundamental science, particularly where Artificial Intelligence intersects with disciplines like biology, physics, and climate science.

For those searching for the legacy Schmidt Futures grant application portals, the current reality is that these systems have been replaced by a more targeted, program-centric approach. Schmidt Sciences identifies grand challenges in science that are currently underfunded or require high-risk technological bets. By the time a funding opportunity becomes public, the organization has usually already defined the scope, the expected impact, and the specific technological requirements.

Understanding the Proactive Funding Philosophy

The hallmark of Schmidt Sciences is its proactive engagement. The organization employs program managers and scientific experts who actively scan the horizon for transformative ideas. This means that general requests for conference sponsorships—which were once part of a broader "talent network" building strategy—are now typically funneled through existing grantee networks or specific center priorities.

If a conference receives sponsorship from Schmidt Sciences today, it is almost certainly because the event aligns directly with one of their active Virtual Institutes or a specific RFP cohort, such as the Eric and Wendy Schmidt AI in Science Postdoctoral Fellows. The funding follows the mission, rather than the mission adapting to external requests.

Strategic Centers and Current AI Funding Priorities

Schmidt Sciences organizes its scientific support through five primary centers. Understanding the nuances of these centers is the first step for any AI researcher or organizer looking to align their work with the organization’s goals.

AI and Advanced Computing

This center is the core engine for AI-related funding. Its mission is to support AI research and tools that accelerate breakthroughs across all scientific fields. Currently, the focus is on three distinct pillars:

  1. Science of Trustworthy AI: As AI models are increasingly integrated into scientific workflows, the reliability of these models is paramount. Funding in this area focuses on creating AI systems that are interpretable, robust, and capable of providing uncertainty quantifications that scientists can trust.
  2. AI for Actionable Matter Modeling: This initiative seeks to bridge the gap between theoretical AI models and real-world material science. The goal is to use AI to predict and design new materials with specific properties, such as high-efficiency battery components or carbon-capture membranes.
  3. Unconventional Compute: Recognizing that current silicon-based architectures may reach their limits, this pillar explores quantum computing, neuromorphic hardware, and other non-classical approaches to processing the massive datasets required for modern science.

Science Systems

The Science Systems center focuses on the "infrastructure" of discovery. This includes the development of open-source tools, data platforms, and community standards that allow scientists to collaborate more effectively. For AI conference organizers, this is a crucial area; if your event focuses on "Open Science" or "AI Interoperability," it aligns with the Science Systems mission of breaking down barriers to discovery.

Biosciences and Climate Science

In these centers, AI is treated as a foundational tool. In Biosciences, the focus is on harnessing biology's possibilities at the intersection of chemistry and physics. In Climate, the priority is "bending the carbon curve." AI grants in these areas are usually awarded to multi-institutional teams that can demonstrate a direct path from algorithmic innovation to tangible environmental or biological outcomes.

The Virtual Institute Model: A New Standard for Collaboration

A significant portion of Schmidt Sciences’ funding is distributed through "Virtual Institutes" (VIs). Unlike a traditional grant given to a single lab, a Virtual Institute is a distributed network of scientific and technical talent working across multiple institutions and disciplines.

Characteristics of a Virtual Institute

  • Multi-Institutional: Typically led by one institution with two to three supporting host institutions and a wider network of global partners.
  • Five-Year Horizon: These are not short-term projects. Most VIs are planned for a five-year duration, providing the stability needed for high-risk research.
  • Integrated Support: Funded teams are not left alone; they are integrated with support from program staff and a scientific advisory board to ensure synergy across the network.
  • High-Risk Bets: The VIs are designed to tackle challenges that traditional funders, like the NSF or NIH, might find too speculative.

For those interested in "AI conference sponsorship," the path often involves the "community and knowledge-sharing activities" hosted by these Virtual Institutes. These VIs frequently organize their own convenings, workshops, and symposia, which serve as the primary venues for Schmidt-funded AI discourse.

Analyzing the 2026 Requests for Proposals (RFPs)

For researchers and institutions, the only formal way to "apply" for funding is through the active RFPs listed on the Schmidt Sciences website. As of late 2024 and looking toward 2026, several key opportunities are open:

2026 AI for Actionable Matter Modeling

This RFP is looking for teams that can demonstrate how AI can accelerate the discovery of new materials. The expectation is not just a better algorithm, but a demonstrated loop between AI prediction and experimental validation. Applicants must show how their work will lead to "actionable" results—materials that can be synthesized and tested for real-world application.

2026 Science of Trustworthy AI RFP

This call targets the fundamental problem of the "black box" in AI. In scientific research, knowing that a model works is often less important than knowing why it works. This RFP seeks proposals that advance the mathematical and engineering foundations of AI to ensure that its outputs are verifiable and grounded in physical laws.

2026 Humanities and Artificial Intelligence Virtual Institute (HAVI)

In a unique cross-disciplinary move, this RFP explores how AI can be applied to humanities research. This includes large-scale digital history, linguistics, and the analysis of cultural trends. This represents a significant opportunity for AI researchers who are interested in the socio-technical impacts of their work.

How to Align Your AI Initiative with Schmidt Sciences

Since you cannot submit an unsolicited proposal, you must position your work to be relevant to the organization’s proactive search. This requires a shift in strategy from "asking for money" to "demonstrating strategic alignment."

1. Focus on "AI for Science" (AI4S)

The era of funding "AI for the sake of AI" is largely over at Schmidt Sciences. The organization is intensely focused on the application of AI to solve hard scientific problems. If you are organizing a conference or starting a research project, emphasize the scientific domain (e.g., AI for Protein Folding, AI for Galactic Mapping) rather than just the architectural nuances of the neural network.

2. Build Multi-Institutional Consortia

Schmidt Sciences rarely funds isolated researchers. They value "deep and continuous collaborations." If you are seeking to be noticed by their program managers, show that you are part of a consortium that includes experts from different fields—for example, a team comprising a computer scientist, a chemist, and a data engineer.

3. Contribute to Open Science

The organization places a high value on open-access data and tools. Projects that release their code under permissive licenses and contribute to the global scientific commons are much more likely to be considered for future RFPs or invited into the talent network.

4. Monitor the Opportunities Page Religiously

The "Opportunities for Funding" page is the only authoritative source for active calls. These calls are often highly specific and have strict deadlines. For example, the VIFF (Virtual Institute on Feedstocks of the Future) had a very specific requirement for "regional consortia" in the U.S. being preferred, showing how geographic and thematic constraints are often baked into their funding logic.

The Role of AI 2050

Another important avenue is the AI 2050 initiative. This is a long-term program aimed at addressing the "hard problems" of AI to ensure that it benefits society. AI 2050 fellows are often at the forefront of the organization's talent network. Being named an AI 2050 fellow is one of the most prestigious ways to enter the Schmidt ecosystem, often leading to subsequent invitations to participate in larger grant-funded projects or conferences.

The problems addressed by AI 2050 include:

  • Technical Challenges: Scaling, robustness, and safety.
  • Socio-Technical Challenges: Bias, labor market impacts, and misinformation.
  • Institutional Challenges: How AI changes the way science and governance are conducted.

Evaluation Criteria: What Makes a Winning Proposal?

When a relevant RFP does open, the evaluation process is rigorous. Based on past Virtual Institute FAQs and program descriptions, successful proposals generally hit these four marks:

  1. Innovation and Transformative Potential: Does this work represent a "foundational leap" or just incremental progress? Schmidt Sciences is looking for the former.
  2. Scientific Ability and Expertise: The team must demonstrate not just that they have the idea, but that they have the technical capacity to manage a multi-year, multi-institutional project.
  3. Cross-Cutting Collaborations: How well does the team integrate different disciplines? A proposal that simply has a "token" AI expert on a biology team will likely fail. The integration must be deep.
  4. Feasibility of the "Actionable" Outcome: There must be a clear plan for how the research will move from the lab or the computer into the real world.

Why 2025-2026 is a Critical Window for AI Funding

The current surge in Generative AI and LLMs has created a unique moment. Schmidt Sciences is looking beyond the hype to see how these technologies can be harnessed for rigorous scientific inquiry. We are seeing a move toward "Foundation Models for Science"—models trained not on internet text, but on genomic sequences, weather patterns, and molecular structures.

Researchers who are pioneering these "Science-specific Foundation Models" are currently in the highest demand. If your work involves fine-tuning large models on high-fidelity scientific datasets, you are operating in the exact "Goldilocks zone" that Schmidt Sciences is currently targeting through its AI & Advanced Computing center.

Navigating the RFP Submission Process

If you find an open RFP that matches your work, the process typically follows these stages:

  • Expression of Intent (EOI): A brief document outlining the grand challenge and the team's approach. This stage is critical for the organization to evaluate the relevance of the project to their mission.
  • Invited Proposal: Only a small percentage of EOI submitters are invited to provide a full, detailed proposal.
  • Team Restructuring: Interestingly, Schmidt Sciences often provides feedback during the EOI stage suggesting that teams merge or add specific experts to strengthen their bid. This is part of their "active" management style.

Conclusion

Securing a grant or sponsorship from Schmidt Sciences for an AI-related endeavor requires a departure from traditional application mindsets. Because the organization does not accept unsolicited proposals, the burden is on the researcher or organizer to align their work with the proactive, high-risk, and multi-institutional philosophy of the new Schmidt Sciences centers. By monitoring the official "Opportunities for Funding" page and focusing on the intersection of AI and fundamental science, you can position yourself to be a part of their global talent network. The focus is no longer on simply "applying," but on becoming a vital node in a distributed scientific revolution.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I email a program manager to pitch an AI conference sponsorship?

While you can reach out for networking purposes, the official policy is that unsolicited proposals are not accepted. Sponsorships are usually strategic and tied to existing programs. It is more effective to show how your conference serves a specific community that Schmidt Sciences already supports.

What is the typical duration of a Schmidt Sciences AI grant?

For major initiatives like the Virtual Institutes, the duration is typically five years. Smaller grants or fellowships may have shorter timelines, but the organization generally prefers long-term commitments to solve complex problems.

Does Schmidt Sciences fund for-profit AI startups?

For-profit companies are generally only eligible to apply as part of a consortium led by a not-for-profit research institution or university. The primary goal of the funding must be scientific advancement rather than commercial product development.

Are there geographic restrictions on AI funding?

Many RFPs are global, but some, like the VIFF, have shown a preference for regional consortia within the United States. Always check the specific eligibility requirements for each RFP.

How does Schmidt Sciences differ from the National Science Foundation (NSF)?

While the NSF funds a broad range of scientific research, Schmidt Sciences specifically targets "high-risk bets" and "underfunded grand challenges" that might be considered too speculative for government agencies. They also take a much more active role in managing and integrating their funded project teams.

What should I do if my AI project doesn't fit a current RFP?

The best course of action is to subscribe to their updates and focus on building a robust, multi-institutional research profile. As new grand challenges are identified, new RFPs will be released. Alignment with the principles of Open Science and cross-disciplinary collaboration will always make your work more attractive to their program managers.